Next week I have to install three new perforated grey water drain lines under my lawn. They will be about three feet below the grass with a total length of about 95 feet. How do I prevent the grass roots going into the perforations? Surrounding the lawn are a lot of mature fir, pine and jacaranda trees. How do I prevent the roots of these trees going into the pipes?
I intend to lay a bed of crushed rock in the trench first and then cover the pipes with more crushed rock. Is that enough? I seem to remember something about pouring a mixture of copper sulfate around the pipes before covering them to inhibit root growth. There are no wells in the area so do not need to worry about contamination. Is there something else I can do to stop the grass and tree roots becoming a problem in a few years?
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Stan,
When you start burying your lines, place a cleanout plug between your tanks and the drain field piping. This way you can dose your field piping with an occasional dose of copper sulfate and maybe a shot of Roundup once a year to inhibit the growth of the roots into the piping. You could also wrap your field lines in a root barrier type cloth (similar to silt fence or barrier) prior to burying too. The name of this type of cloth escapes me at the moment, but there is a trade name for it. I do not know how available this stuff is where you are located, but I know you can get the fittings to make the cleanout thing possible.

Good luck, and happy flushing!!!

Gary

 

Stan,
They (I don't know who) makes a cloth that goes on top of the top layer of gravel. We used it when we installed my daughters septic system. I think my son-in-law bought it at Home Depot or Lowes.

I'm sure you have a Home Depot or Lowes on every other corner down there.

CR

 

Oh sure! Just like 7-11 stores! Home Depot is just starting in Mexico but they have not reached my area yet. They have just bought out a chain called Home Mart which is a cheap knockoff of Home Depot. Can't wait for Home Depot to hit my area. Just hope they don't mess it up by copying the "usual" Mexican hardware stores.
I know about that cloth but will not hold my breath to obtain it here.
Scuzman, great idea about the cleanout plug and an annual dose of CS or Roundup.
BTW, for some reason perforated drain pipe is not available in Mexico. The builders buy regular PVC and then drill holes in it at irregular intervals. Have tried to get it in the past and ended up making my own. Even the large builders down here can't get it.

 

The barrier mat wraped around the pipe and a layer of mat under and around the rock with the annual copper sulfate will work, I don't drill holes I use a circular saw and cut thin slits on two sides when I made some lines out of some leftover 4inch pvc I got at a auction. Goodluck,,,Rick

 

Mex, I have had great success w/ a product called biobarrier made in Tennessee. These desert tree roots can reak havoc on pipe and turfed areas. This barrier has pellets of Treflan impregnated and when the roots get to it they just go another direction. They can go under or over so make sure depending on type of trees, depth of roots you put in to the proper depth. All I have is an e-mail address biobarrier@reemay.com

Good Luck

 

Stan, they do make the drain pide with the screen already on it, I would think wherever the suply the regular stuff, should be able to get it. Otherwise use landscape screen/felt. Lay it down first, lay the drain on it, then fold it over.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Living in Mexico is great, but it does have a few drawbacks. One of them is not being able to just go downtown (or uptown) and buy whatever product is needed. Most stuff is available here but a few of the items such as you have mentioned is unheard of. Think about it, if I can't purchase perforated drain pipe, do you honestly think I can buy biobarier or screens to protect against roots? Sure wish I could, but for this job have decided that I have to buy regular 4" PVC and drill the holes myself. Or use a Skill saw as kandgo suggested.
This job came up in hurry so did not have time to plan ahead and buy the needed supplies in the states as I usually do. It has to be finished next week at the latest. So for this job I am going to just dig my trenches and lay the pipe in a bed of crushed rock. Then annually dump a few gallons of copper sulfate or Roundup down the drain.
Oh, and keep my fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong in a few years.