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Wastewater Program
Landscaping tips with a septic system
Landscaping when you have a septic system requires special care. Since your yard is where wastewater is treated, a landscape design should not interfere with the natural functioning of your septic system. A balanced combination of oxygen and organisms will maintain healthy soils necessary for your septic system.
3 easy steps to develop a landscape design
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Get a copy of the as-built
An as-built is a drawing of your septic system in relation to your house and property boundaries. Your septic system Designer completes the as-built after the septic system is installed. Public Health keeps as-built drawings on file as public information.
You can request Public Health to search their records for your septic system. NOTE: Not all records are complete and older septic systems may not have as-builts.
There are 3 ways to request a file search for an as-built:
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As-built Drawing Request form
Print this form, fill in the details of your request, sign the bottom and mail it or bring it in person to:
Eastgate Environmental Health
14350 SE Eastgate Way
Bellevue, WA 98007
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Fax your filled-in and signed As-built Drawing Request form to 206-296-4919.
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Call the Eastgate Public Health Center with the parcel number at 206-296-4932 or 800-325-6165 ext. 6-4932. If you are requesting as-builts for more than one parcel number, please fax or bring the forms to the Eastgate Public Health Center (see # 1 & 2 above). |
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Locate the septic tank, drainfield and reserve area using the as-built
Avoid landscaping on or near the septic tank. Consider installing "risers" or septic tank lids to make septic tank pumping and monitoring visits easier and less time-consuming.
The septic tank, drainfield and reserve area should be clear of:
- underground sprinkler lines
- decks, patios, sports courts, or utility storage sheds
- swingsets
- sand boxes
- paved or dirt driveways
- parked vehicles
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Begin the landscape design
After locating the septic tank, drainfield and reserve area, you may now begin the design phase. Keep the tips in Step 2 in mind.
Planting tips:
- Don't plant a vegetable garden on or near the drainfield or reserve area
- Plants over the septic system may be disturbed or destroyed with repair work
- Don't put plastic sheets, bark, gravel or other fill over the drainfield or reserve area
- Don't reshape or fill the ground surface over the drainfield and reserve area (just adding topsoil is generally OK as long as it doesn't exceed a couple of inches over the drainfield area)
- Grass or the existing native vegetation are the best covers for your drainfield and reserve area
- Direct all surface drainage areas away from the septic system
- Use shallow-rooted plants (see Plant List below)
- Avoid water-loving plants and trees
- Do not make ponds on or near the septic system and the reserve area
Suggested plant list (Provided by Washington Sea Grant Program):
- Grass:
- Fescue
- Lawn
- Ornamental grasses
- Wildflower meadow mixes
- Groundcovers for sun:
- Bugleweed (Ajuga)
- Carpet heathers (Calluga)
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)
- Ground Ivy (Glechonma)
- Kinnickinick (Arctostapylos)
- Periwinkle (Vinca)
- Soapwort (Saponaria)
- Groundcovers for shade:
- Bunchberry (Cornus)
- Chameleon (Houtuynnia)
- Ferns
- Mosses
- Sweet Woodruff (Galium)
- Wild Ginder (Asarum)
- Wintergreen (Gaultheria)
For more ideas, contact your local nursery or visit the Washington Sea Grant Program.
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