Can you build a deck over a septic field?

Answer 1

Septic drainfields and an equal sized replacement area should ideally be located in an area that receives little or no surface disturbance. For example they can't be under driveways, or in a pasture where the ground might be compacted by livestock or farm machinery. Under a lawn or garden is OK because the traffic is light. A few experts think that eating vegetables from a garden over a septic drainfield garden might be a bad idea because of the possibility of the produce extracting germs from the septic system. This is impossible, but there is a slim chance of the drainfield contaminating the vegetables if the drainfield is failed with sewage on the ground. Failed drainfields are obvious with smells and wetness all the time at the surface but some people are too conservative to chance this. Every local county health district or department has rules which explain horizontal and vertical setbacks allowed between all septic components and buildings, water lines, property lines, wells and even certain species of trees. Usually decks are allowed over drainfields as long as the piers of the deck are at least two feet from the drainfield trenches, and as long as the deck footings do not support a roof. If the deck has a roof the setback is usually ten feet, but always check with your local health department.

Answer 2

If the field is a dispersal field for processed foul sewer water then it is extremely unlikely that the field can be built over. This is because the soil needs to remain biologically active to further process the wastewater. It needs to be exposed to the sun and the air, to be free draining and have plant, insect, fungal and bacterial life for the process to work, in order to keep the area and the soil and water from becoming smelly and unhealthy.

ANS 2 - NO, you cannot ! Local ordinances almost everywhere forbid building over a septic field.

Answer 3

It is perfectly OK from a public health view to put swing sets and playground equipment over the septic drainfield. Of course avoid digging posts in the drainfield area if you do not know exactly where the pipes are and be prepared to repair any breaks caused by exploration if you don't..

Answer 4

sure if you want to set of crapy fireworks.

Really, I don't know who is the bigger smart Alec idiot: the one that asked this question or the one who gave the first answer. Forest Gump would have the answer. "Stupid is as stupid does!"

- I really don't think that comment was necessary. I asked a serious question, I want to build a camp fire pit and the best spot I have happens to be in a septic field. I want to know if it would damage the system. It has nothing to do with Fireworks.

I apologize to the questioner if he was serious but I do not apologize to the person who answered with the fireworks retort. Have you read some of the weird questions asked on this site? They are just plain ridiculous. Sorry, but yours seemed to fall into that category. Perhaps if you had been more detailed in your reason for asking the question, it would have generated a more helpful reply: such as, "The best spot to build a fire pit is over a septic field and Will building it there damage the system?"