growing vegetables near septic drain field

9 years ago

I want to grow some corn downhill from the septic drain field. I have looked around on the internet to see how far away from the drainfield is considered safe but i haven't found an answer. Some resources say it is completely safe for corn and others say you shouldn't grow anything near the drain field. I cannot find any answers as to what "near the drain field" means. 1ft? 10ft? 20ft? Does anyone have any ideas where to look?

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poncirusguy6b452xx

7 years ago

JoppaRich

Prople have been asking about you on the citrus forum. I don't post many pictures anymore.

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Comments (7)

zeuspaul
9 years ago
The EPA and the CDC recommend 50 ft distance for a water well to a leach field. So if you are worried about contaminants to the corn roots that would probably be considered a safe distance. You should also consider that birds and other animals will deposit contaminants in your corn field.

I would be more concerned about the vegetable roots getting into the leach lines. Three feet away would probably be a good distance if you worry about that.

Or if you don't do a lot of worrying just plant non root vegetables ( no onions, carrots, potatoes) and enjoy the bountiful harvest.

This post was edited by zeuspaul on Sun, Jan 25, 15 at 12:17
digdirt2
9 years ago
There are several previous discussions here on this that the search will pull up for you if interested in reading all the comments in them. Just type 'septic' in the forum search box at the bottom of the page.

Personally I'd plant as far away from it as possible just to avoid any potential problems since the cost of septic repairs are so high. But if you can't then as zeus said, avoid planting root crops there.

Dave
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Hi Kevin - here is a link to several previous discussions on this issue that you may want to browse through. Personally, I would avoid the area simply because, as the proud owner of a septic tank and field, I've had problems enough keeping Mother Nature's roots out of it without adding more roots. Not to mention pathogen uptake by some foods is well documented. If it is a grey water field only there is less risk on the pathogen issue, but if you have other options for the location I think you'd be better off developing them. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Septic field garden discussions...
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g'day sue, for me i can't see why not so long as the fruit maybe hasn't been sitting in or on the actual water in the field. there is a whole process that goes on before plants get nutrients and water from such sources (that's why grass & weed growing in these places are so lush and green good nutrient supply) so can't even imagine how any say pathogens would transfer to the flesh of the fruit, even if you thought it was on the skin it could be peeled or washed or both. we also have at least one link to a site that promotes planting over or near leech fields. and if the septic is working as it should there is a whole process that goes on in the tank before that water is expelled to the leech field. my father used to have a hole dug below the leach field and he would bucket that water to the vege' patch, also had neighbours who micro irrigated their cottage garden with the stuff right from the tank used to stink a bit but no one has suffered. reckon i would need to see hard case evidence of anyone anywhere actually getting sick from eating produce grown using this water. always an emotive issue with lots of fear hype attached. i hear the same thing about grey water use in gardens we have always used it and to date we rarely even get the common cold. len Here is a link that might be useful: len's garden page
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Any new, small plants can be expected to be damaged or destroyed by careless foot traffic. Dogs will also sometimes chew on them. Best to put up some fencing or other protection until shrubs large enough to fend for themselves. Twig dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera and relations) mostly grow large and sucker to form thickets, making them perhaps not the best choice. This depends on if you really need to keep large shrubs out of the area or not. Assuming you do, I would try small, compact twiggy things like the various Spiraea japonica cultivars (and maybe some other spiraeas), as well as shrubby potentilla cultivars (I have seen Potentilla fruticosa growing wild in the middle of a stream in the Rockies). These are comparatively inexpensive, easily found in nurseries and easily grown. However, being small and brittle they will work for you only if the foot traffic and rough-housing can be curbed enough to permit this. There are many other kinds of shrubs suitable for damp places, for example if you like winter stems the new Cornus sanguinea cultivars are hard to beat. Some others posting similar questions on this site have been told they didn't have to worry about their drainfield being adversely impacted, in which case you would only have to choose plants that seem likely to grow in that spot, same as any other planting scheme. I think this depends on the details of your particular setup. You might try searching GardenWeb for "drainfield".
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klem1
9 years ago
As long as there is no malfunction causing wet areas in leach field you have nothing to worry about. If leach field has standing water your health is in danger,plant or no plant. As far as roots invading the lines,annual plants don't have roots five feet below the surface..
wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
9 years ago
I realize that there can be a great diversity in septic systems. Some have a well managed field that involves not dumping chemicals down the drain; not dumping a lot of soaps and grease down the drain; adding some good bacteria; and not overloading it with hundreds of gallons a day.

That said, digdirt said it well.
donnaz5
9 years ago
EEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW !!! LOL
Bet you don't get many dinner guests when they find that out!!!!
JoppaRich
9 years ago
donna, you do realize that most organic vegetables are grown in animal poop, right? That's what manure is.

growing vegetables near septic drain field

poncirusguy6b452xx

Comments (7)

zeuspaul

digdirt2

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