Septic tank systems are vital for thousands of homes across the country that aren't linked to local sewer services. If your home relies on a septic tank system, you may not be aware of how tree roots can seriously damage your system, potentially causing widespread flooding and contamination.
How Can Tree Roots Damage Septic Tank Systems?
The roots of trees will naturally grow towards areas that are rich in moisture and nutrients—unfortunately, the decomposing sewage inside a septic tank contains both. To make matters worse, many septic tanks leak small amounts of sewage into the surrounding soil. While these small leaks are usually harmless, they can be very attractive to the roots of nearby trees.
If a tree with a particularly aggressive root system starts growing towards a septic tank, the roots may start to grow into the septic tank itself, finding small gaps and cracks in the tank's housing. These rapidly growing roots can widen these small gaps, forcing them open. This can rapidly turn a small leak into a gaping hole, leaking large amounts of untreated sewage into your soil.
Tree roots can also damage your septic tank's soakaway or drain field. This is the patch of ground that absorbs the treated liquids that flow out of your septic tank's outlet. Many soakaways contain a network of subterranean pipes, which distribute the liquid across a wider area to stop patches of the ground from becoming waterlogged.
If trees with fast-growing roots are planted over the soakaway, the roots can grow into the soakaway's pipes, causing them to split. Split soakaway pipes can leak large quantities of liquid into a small area, causing localised waterlogging.
What Should You Do If Tree Roots Are Damaging Your Septic Tank System?
If tree roots have damaged your septic tank's housing or soakaway, you may notice patches of wet, saturated ground forming over the damaged component(s). Serious leaks may cause puddles of foul-smelling liquid to form at the surface level. You may also notice patches of grass growing taller and greener than usual, as the leaking sewage fertilises the soil beneath them.
If you notice any of these tell-tale signs of septic tank damage, you should call in a septic tank inspection service to check for tree root damage. If the inspectors find tree roots growing into your septic tank or soakaway pipes, you should call in a professional tree removal service to remove the offending tree or trees.
In many cases, simply chopping the tree down will not fix the problem, as some tree species will continue to send out roots after felling. Any roots that have grown into your tank or soakaway pipes will also need to be removed before the system can be fully repaired. Professional tree removal services can use specialised equipment and methods to completely uproot a tree without damaging your septic tank system.
For more information about tree removal, contact a local company.
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