Signs the drain field is failing
- Soggy ground or standing water over the field, even in dry weather
- A strip of grass greener and faster-growing than the rest of the yard
- Sewage smell outdoors, away from the tank lids
- Drains slow down again soon after the tank was pumped
Repair or replace?
A contractor will usually pump the tank first, then check the distribution box and the lines.
- Repairable: a crushed or blocked pipe, a tilted distribution box, roots in a line, or one bad section of field.
- Replacement: the soil under the whole field is sealed with sludge, or the field sits too close to the water table to work.
Typical costs
| Work | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis with camera inspection | $200–$500 |
| Line or distribution box repair | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Full drain field replacement | $5,000–$15,000+ |
Rough ranges. Mound systems, needed where the water table is high, sit at the top end or above.
Permits in Florida
Drain field repairs and replacements in Florida need a state permit, and the design has to meet current setback and water-table rules. A licensed contractor pulls the permit and schedules the inspection for you. Be wary of anyone offering to skip it: unpermitted work can cause trouble when you sell the house.
Why Polk County fields fail
Sandy soil is easy on drain fields until solids reach it. Most failures here trace back to a tank that went too long between pump-outs, plus heavy summer rain raising the water table under the field. Keeping to a pumping schedule is the best protection.