Leach Bed Questions
09-15-2009, 07:03 PM
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Leach Bed Questions
So we're renting a 14 stall horse barn on 68 acres (30 acres is bean field) with a one bedroom apartment in the barn. The place had a small indoor riding arena, but we needed a large outdoor riding arena.
We asked the guy that built the place, specifically, if there was a leach bed where we wanted to put the outdoor arena. He said no. Well, today he calls us up and tells us there is a leach bed where we put the arena. The arena is 250'x80'. According to the map we now have, the leach bed is every bit as big as the arena and directly under it.
I'm a little confused as to why a one bedroom apartment requires a leach bed of that size to begin with and I'm not sure as to why its on the other side of the property from the septic tank.
We're told by the county engineer that built the system that its a very bad idea to ride on top of the leach bed. Even if the arena sees minimal use.
What do you guys think? I've spent countless hours and dollars constructing this arena. I'd rather not move it. The thought makes me sick. But I also don't want to spend thousands of dollars fixing a broken septic system either.
We asked the guy that built the place, specifically, if there was a leach bed where we wanted to put the outdoor arena. He said no. Well, today he calls us up and tells us there is a leach bed where we put the arena. The arena is 250'x80'. According to the map we now have, the leach bed is every bit as big as the arena and directly under it.
I'm a little confused as to why a one bedroom apartment requires a leach bed of that size to begin with and I'm not sure as to why its on the other side of the property from the septic tank.
We're told by the county engineer that built the system that its a very bad idea to ride on top of the leach bed. Even if the arena sees minimal use.
What do you guys think? I've spent countless hours and dollars constructing this arena. I'd rather not move it. The thought makes me sick. But I also don't want to spend thousands of dollars fixing a broken septic system either.
09-15-2009, 07:14 PM
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i would not worry about it. we are building a very large leach field that will serve about 50 users and it was designed to be fenced in for horse use area. i build a lot of them under roads, drive ways, parking lots, parks and green areas
09-15-2009, 07:16 PM
#4
I wish I was as fine, as those who work the pipeline!
The size of the leach field is determined by the percolation rate of the soil, so the size can vary widely. As far as riding horses on it, I would not worry about it. I would assume that it is about a foot or two below the surface. The good thing about having the arena over the top of it is that heavy rains will not reduce the percolation rate of the soil that the leach field is located. I would not worry about it. I did a BUNCH of research on it before I built mine and If I were in your situation, I would not be a bit worried. One more thing, it is my humble opinion that your leach field can never be to big!!!
09-15-2009, 07:40 PM
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I would be very concerned and would advise against it. All you need is to have a single spot in one of the drains break down and you can disable the entire field. The second, and most troubling scenario would be having a horse hit a soft spot, break through a line and have a leg injury. The proper thing to do would be move the arena but, you might be able to get by with the addition of about 18" of good soil on top of the existing drains. The would provide you with additional support for both the drainage field and the horses.
As to the size of the drainage field, some areas base it on the square footage of the structure attached to it, some on the number of bed rooms and bath rooms. There may also have been plans for future expansion and the larger bed was need. It's typically cheaper to install the larger bed at the time of initial construction rather than going back and adding more lines.
As to the size of the drainage field, some areas base it on the square footage of the structure attached to it, some on the number of bed rooms and bath rooms. There may also have been plans for future expansion and the larger bed was need. It's typically cheaper to install the larger bed at the time of initial construction rather than going back and adding more lines.
09-15-2009, 08:17 PM
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I would be very concerned and would advise against it. All you need is to have a single spot in one of the drains break down and you can disable the entire field. The second, and most troubling scenario would be having a horse hit a soft spot, break through a line and have a leg injury. The proper thing to do would be move the arena but, you might be able to get by with the addition of about 18" of good soil on top of the existing drains. The would provide you with additional support for both the drainage field and the horses.
As to the size of the drainage field, some areas base it on the square footage of the structure attached to it, some on the number of bed rooms and bath rooms. There may also have been plans for future expansion and the larger bed was need. It's typically cheaper to install the larger bed at the time of initial construction rather than going back and adding more lines.
As to the size of the drainage field, some areas base it on the square footage of the structure attached to it, some on the number of bed rooms and bath rooms. There may also have been plans for future expansion and the larger bed was need. It's typically cheaper to install the larger bed at the time of initial construction rather than going back and adding more lines.
One other thing you may want to look into is what the leach system is made of. There are pipe systems and chamber systems. If it's a chamber system you'd probably have less of a concern with riding horses over it than one with PVC piping.
Do you concur T-Rad? (That means 'agree')
chaikwa.
09-15-2009, 08:25 PM
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What he said but with possible exception to the addition of 18" of soil. Leach beds utilize a certain amount of evaporation for them to work and the addition of more soil over the top of them would alter that.
One other thing you may want to look into is what the leach system is made of. There are pipe systems and chamber systems. If it's a chamber system you'd probably have less of a concern with riding horses over it than one with PVC piping.
Do you concur T-Rad? (That means 'agree')
chaikwa.
One other thing you may want to look into is what the leach system is made of. There are pipe systems and chamber systems. If it's a chamber system you'd probably have less of a concern with riding horses over it than one with PVC piping.
Do you concur T-Rad? (That means 'agree')
chaikwa.
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I was working on a dump truck a few years ago, and the forman from the co. was standing about 10 ft. away from us, when all of a sudden he fell about 4 ft straight down. He was standing on a distribution box from a residential system and the cover broke. He was real unhappy with what he was standing in.
