Wet Spots in Your Yard? It Might Be a Septic Leak

If you're noticing soggy areas, standing water, or unusually green patches of grass in your yard—especially near your septic tank or drain field—it could be more than just rainwater or overwatering. These are common signs of a septic system leak.

At Sims Septic, we’ve helped countless homeowners across Everton and surrounding areas identify and resolve septic problems before they lead to serious damage. In this post, we’ll walk you through the causes, symptoms, and solutions for septic leaks that show up as wet spots in your yard.

What causes septic system leaks and wet spots in your yard?

Septic systems are designed to treat and disperse wastewater safely underground through a series of pipes and a drain field. When everything works correctly, you shouldn’t even notice it. But when part of the system fails—whether from age, lack of maintenance, or physical damage—wastewater can leak to the surface and create wet, soggy, or sunken areas in your yard.

Here are the most common causes of septic leaks that lead to visible yard problems:

Clogged drain field lines

• • Caused by a buildup of solids, fats, or grease
  • Prevents wastewater from moving through the soil
  • Results in surface pooling and foul odors
  • Common in systems that haven’t been pumped regularly

Cracked or damaged pipes

• • Pipes can crack from shifting soil, vehicle traffic, or natural wear
  • Wastewater leaks into unintended parts of the yard
  • Creates soggy patches that may be far from the tank or drain field
  • May go undetected until surface symptoms appear

Overfilled septic tank

• • Tanks that aren't pumped regularly can overflow
  • Excess solids enter the drain field, leading to blockages
  • Causes wastewater to back up or rise to the surface
  • One of the most preventable septic problems

Root intrusion

• • Tree or shrub roots grow into pipes, tanks, or joints
  • Creates cracks or clogs in the system
  • Leads to slow leaks and wet, sunken areas in the yard
  • Especially common on rural or wooded properties

Compacted soil

• • Caused by driving or parking over the drain field
  • Reduces the soil’s ability to absorb wastewater
  • Forces effluent to surface instead of filtering underground
  • Often overlooked but a major contributor to drain field failure

How to tell if your yard’s wet spots are a septic problem—and what to do about it

Not all soggy areas in your yard are caused by septic issues, but if you’re seeing persistent wet spots that don’t dry out, it’s worth taking a closer look. Septic leaks can be subtle at first—but ignoring them can lead to serious system damage, costly repairs, and even health hazards.

Signs your wet yard might be a septic issue

Be alert for the following symptoms, especially after a period of dry weather:

• • Persistent wet or spongy areas that remain saturated long after rainfall
  • Bright green, fast-growing grass in an isolated part of the lawn—especially near the drain field
  • Standing water or surface pooling near the septic tank, riser, or drain field
  • Sewage odors inside the home, near your foundation, or coming from the yard
  • Soft, sunken, or unstable soil, which can be a sign of an underground leak or drain field failure
  • Increased insects, such as flies or mosquitoes, drawn to the moisture and organic material

These are strong indicators that your septic system isn’t dispersing wastewater properly. In many cases, it points to a clogged drain field, overflowing tank, or cracked piping—all of which we routinely diagnose and fix at Sims Septic.

What to do if you suspect a septic leak

If you notice any of the signs above, it’s important to act quickly to prevent further damage:

1. 1. Reduce water usage immediately
      • • Avoid long showers, running dishwashers, or doing laundry.
        • Reducing flow into the system helps relieve pressure and prevents backups.
   2. Avoid disturbing the affected area
      • • Don’t walk, mow, or drive over the soggy spot.
        • Additional weight can compact the soil and worsen absorption issues.
   3. Call a licensed professional like Sims Septic
      • • We’ll perform a full septic inspection to identify the exact cause.
        • If needed, we can pump the tank to relieve pressure, replace clogged effluent filters, and repair or reseal damaged risers and lids.

How Sims Septic can help

We offer a full range of septic services designed to resolve both surface symptoms and the underlying causes of wet spots in your yard:

• • Septic tank pumping to clear overloaded systems and prevent overflows
  • Septic system inspections to assess the tank, pipes, and drain field
  • Effluent filter cleaning and replacement to improve outflow and reduce clogs
  • Riser and lid installations to ensure your tank is sealed from surface water
  • Septic system repairs for cracked lines, failing pumps, or leaking joints
  • Drain field evaluations to check for compaction, biological clogging, or saturation issues
  • Lift station pumping for properties with elevation challenges that rely on pumps to move waste
  • Holding tank services for rural homes or RV parks using temporary or backup systems

Whether you’re dealing with a small leak or a system-wide failure, our experienced team will identify the issue and recommend the right solution to get your system running safely again.

Example: A septic leak repaired in Republic, MO

A homeowner in Republic called us after noticing a persistent wet patch forming near their drain field. Our inspection revealed a cracked pipe between the tank and drain field. We repaired the damaged line, pumped the tank, and restored proper function—all before any sewage reached the surface or entered the home.

Service areas we cover

Sims Septic proudly serves customers across Southwest Missouri, including:

• • Everton
  • Springfield
  • Willard
  • Republic
  • Dade County
  • Greene County
  • Polk County
  • Cedar County
  • Lawrence County
  • Christian County
  • Webster County
  • Dallas County

Call Sims Septic before a small leak becomes a big problem

Get reliable, local help for your septic issue

If you're seeing unexplained wet spots in your yard, don’t ignore the signs. Call Sims Septic today to schedule an inspection or request a quote. We’ll respond quickly, diagnose the issue, and get your system working the way it should.

Sims Septic is your trusted local expert for septic tank pumping, inspections, repairs, and drain field diagnostics—serving homeowners across Southwest Missouri with integrity and experience.