This article will cover chemicals used to keep roots away from lateral lines. Your property is optimal when every component is working flawlessly. The most important part you should always keep an eye on is your septic system. The septic system is a modern version of the cesspool. It has an inflow and outflow, a septic tank, and a drain field that efficiently takes care of the wastewater treatment. The major divisions of the septic systems are the septic tank and the drain field. As you know, the septic tank collects and treats the wastewater with the help of the anaerobic bacteria. The raw wastewater stays there for a while until it forms three layers—the scum (top), the effluent (middle), and the sludge (bottom). The scum layer has the lightweight solid waste. The effluent layer is the clear, treated wastewater. The sludge layer has the heavy waste materials being broken down by the anaerobic bacteria. The next division is the drain field. It is comprised of lateral lines that are perforated to allow the even distribution of treated wastewater. Lateral lines should be installed professionally so that the pipes are level and the effluent doesn’t flow to one side of the property.
Lateral lines should be maintained and cared for. Any malfunction that happens to the septic tank affects the drain field and its lateral lines. To make sure that everything is ok with your lateral lines, consider the following pointers:
- Do not use harsh chemicals as household cleaners. These kill off the resident bacteria in your septic tank. When the bacteria die, the wastewater treatment stops. The solid waste materials flow into the drain field and into the lateral lines. This results to blockage. If the lateral lines get blocked, the wastewater will backflow into your house and onto your yard.
- Do not dump grease, paint, and non-biodegradable materials into the toilet and drains. These will not be broken down by bacteria. They will just block the normal flow of wastewater. They will also flow into the drain field and the lateral lines, eventually causing a septic system failure.
- Do not place vehicles or structures on the lateral lines. The weight will cause soil compaction and the pressure will crush the lines. The damage will cause leaks, backflow, and wastewater flooding.
- Do not plant trees and other hardwood plants near or over the lateral lines. The roots are invasive because they seek abundant and regular sources of water and nutrients. Lateral lines are easily accessible. Roots get into their perforations and completely block the normal flow of wastewater. Untreated wastewater then backs up into your home and floods the property. Roots should be removed from the lateral lines once they have penetrated them. They should also be protected from root invasion.Roots are very detrimental to lateral lines and the entire septic system. They persistently enter the system and create impenetrable meshes that block the flow of wastewater. They could also damage the lateral lines and other components of the septic system. This will eventually lead to septic failure and huge septic replacement bills. It can set you back thousands of dollars to replace your entire septic system.
Invasive root systems can be removed by manually removing them. This is a more laborious method of eradicating your root problem because of all the digging and replacements involved. For a more inexpensive means, there are chemicals used to keep roots away from lateral lines. All you have to do is to relocate the trees and shrubs and form a shield of root killers around the lateral line premises. Dig lines of small holes between the trees and the lateral lines. Fill the holes with root killers and then cover them with soil. These will effectively keep out the roots from entering the lateral lines again.
Consult your local septic expert for the best means to control roots. It would be ideal to consult a landscape architect as well to know where to replant the trees without causing significant harm to the lawn.