A septic tank is an underground tank for wastewater sewage treatment. So a septic tank is common in most houses. On the other hand, most families have at least one car or vehicle. So while driving or parking the vehicle around your home, there might be a septic tank.
You might be confused about whether you can drive over a septic tank or not. You must know about the consequences and safety of driving over a septic tank. Moreover, learning about safe driving or parking over or around the septic tank is essential. So let’s see details about it.
Can you drive over a septic tank?
You should not drive over a septic tank. Septic tanks are not designed to withstand the higher load and pressure of the car or vehicle. Excess weight and stress can make the septic tank collapse and affect the health issues of your family. Septic tanks should not be under a driveway.
However, the septic tank and its cover can be made of different materials. Different materials have various load-bearing capacities. So if you want to know about the safety of driving over a septic tank, you must know about the materials’ strength. Let’s see whether you can drive over these septic tank materials or not.
Concrete septic tank:
Septic tanks that are made of concrete are pretty hard and strong. So you might think driving over a concrete septic tank is okay. But driving over any septic tank is not recommended.
Generally, concrete can withstand more load and weight than other materials. But you have to consider two things. First, using concrete over or around the septic tank is never recommended.
Secondly, driving over concrete might be safe. But if any crack is initiated in the concrete for over-stressing, it might be unsafe. So, please avoid the septic tank area.
Plastic septic tank:
You should never drive over a plastic septic tank. Generally, driving over any septic tank is not recommended. Moreover, if you drive over a plastic septic tank, it can fail.
You might know that plastic materials can be hard but can’t bear excessive load or weight on them. So, when you drive over the plastic septic tank, the entire vehicle weight will be on the plastic.
The plastic doesn’t have the ability to withstand such a high load. So, the plastic material might bend and even fail. If the septic tank fails, it will be very unhygienic and unhealthy for you and your family.
Moreover, it will be costly to fix the septic tank. So, if you have a plastic septic tank, you should avoid the area while driving. Even you can place some indication signs to avoid driving over the plastic septic tank.
Buried septic tank:
You must not drive over a buried septic tank. Generally, septic tanks are buried underground. But the septic tank is not in the deep soil. So, the surface soil over the septic tank can’t withstand high weight and load.
If the septic tank’s cover is made of concrete or steel, it might withstand some loads from the car or vehicle. But over time, the cover will become weak and eventually fail. Even the vehicle’s weight can replace or distort the soil over the buried septic tank.
Once the septic tank fails, it will cost you a lot. Moreover, a failed septic tank can be unsafe for your family’s health. So, it will be better if you don’t drive over the buried septic tank.
Does it hurt to drive over a septic drain field?
Generally, driving over a septic drain field will not hurt you immediately. But it can be dangerous and unsafe to drive over the septic drain field. Typically, septic drains are located under the soil. So, it is called a septic drain field.
In this soil, the septic tank and drains are placed. These drains and tanks can’t bear the excessive load. But if you drive over the septic drain field, it will be risky. Because unreasonable load can lead to the accidental collapse of the septic tank and the drains.
Generally, the weight of a car or vehicle is pretty large. If you drive over the septic drain field, the field’s soil becomes compacted. Moreover, driving over the septic drain field will reduce airflow.
Septic drain and tank are supposed to be in soft soil that will provide airflow. So, driving over a septic drain field is also not recommended.
How much weight can you drive over a septic tank?
How much weight you can drive over a septic tank depends on the vehicle type and weight. So, let’s see some vehicles and their weights. Moreover, let’s see whether you can drive over a septic tank with these vehicles or not.
Tractor:
The average weight of a tractor is around 2500 kg. This weight is so high that it can provide a tremendous amount of pressure on the soil. If you have a septic tank under the ground and you drive over the septic tank with a tractor, it has a chance to collapse the septic tank.
Car:
A car might be lighter than a tractor. But a car also has an average weight of 1300 to 1500 kg. Generally, driving over a septic tank is not recommended, whatever the vehicle is. If you drive a car over the septic tank, the tank will get pressure and a huge weight.
Riding mower:
The riding mower is pretty lightweight compared to the car or tractor. Generally, a riding mower might have 200 to 250 kg. This much weight does not cause immediate damage to the soil or the septic tank under the ground. But continuous use might cause degradation of the soil and septic tank.
Truck:
A truck has a vast amount of weight. Generally, the average weight of a truck is more than 2000 kg. So, driving a truck over the septic tank might make the tank collapse. So, it would be best if you did not drive a truck over the septic tank.
Lawn mower:
A lawn mower is not heavyweight like a car or truck. But this can have 200 t 250 kg of weight. This weight might not damage the septic tank immediately. But frequent use might cause damage to the tank.
Skid steer:
The average weight of a skid steer is more than 3000 kg. So you should never drive the skid steer over a septic tank.
What happens if you drive over a septic tank?
Now that you know you should not drive over the septic tank, you might want to know about the consequences. So let’s see what happens if you drive over a septic tank.
Soil damage:
Generally, the soil over the septic tank is soft so that the septic tank can get enough airflow. So if you drive over the ground above the septic tank, it will damage the soil. Eventually, the load will be over the septic tank.
Septic tank collapse:
Generally, driving over a septic tank is never recommended. Because putting a huge amount of weight and pressure over the septic tank will collapse the septic tank. Once the septic tank is collapsed, it will be unsafe for your and your family’s health and hygiene.
Wet soil:
If the septic tank is damaged or fractured by the overload of driving, the soil will get wet from the wastewater leakage. So the field or area of the septic tank will always be damp and dirty.
Which parts of the septic tank get damaged if you drive over it?
If you know about the septic tank’s damaged part, you can be concerned about it. So, let’s see which parts of the septic tank get damaged if you drive over it.
Septic tank cover:
If you drive over the septic tank, it can damage the cover of the septic tank. The cover might be made of steel or concrete. But a huge vehicle load can damage the cover, and the septic tank can collapse.
Septic pipelines:
The pipeline of the septic system is around the septic tank. Generally, the pipelines are underground but not deep. So the pipelines of the septic system can get damaged.
Final Thoughts
You should never drive over a septic tank. Generally, driving any vehicle is risky over the septic tank or the septic system. The septic tank or the pipelines can get damaged by the vehicle load. Once the septic tank is collapsed, it can be a health and hygiene issue for your family.