Everything You Need to Know About Septic Tank Flooding

What causes a septic tank to flood

Septic tank flooding usually happens when the tank fills faster than it can safely process and disperse waste, often because it has not been emptied regularly, the drainage field around it has become saturated, or a blockage is preventing waste from flowing through properly.

Heavy or prolonged rainfall can also raise the water table around a tank, reducing its capacity to disperse treated waste water into the surrounding ground.

Warning signs to watch for

Slow draining toilets and sinks throughout the property, a strong sewage smell around the tank or drainage field, and visibly wet or boggy ground nearby are all signs that a tank may be reaching capacity or struggling to disperse waste.

• Slow draining toilets and sinks across the property
• Sewage smells around the tank or drainage field
• Wet or boggy ground near the tank
• Gurgling from pipework leading to the tank

Why prompt action matters

A flooding septic tank can pose a genuine health hazard, as untreated waste water may reach the surface or contaminate nearby ground. It should be treated as a priority rather than left to resolve itself.

How the problem is resolved

Our tanker services safely remove excess waste from the tank, relieving the immediate pressure. A CCTV drain survey can then establish whether a blockage, damaged pipe or saturated drainage field is the underlying cause, so it can be addressed properly rather than recurring.

Support for septic tank properties

Rapid Drainage Services provides tanker services, pump services, CCTV drain surveys and 24 hour emergency call outs to properties with septic tanks across London and Essex. Call 020 3488 6280 or email info@rdrainage.co.uk if you notice any of the warning signs above.