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Thanksgiving for 45 and our house is on septic: where can the porta potty truck safely drive?

Megan H.asked 1 viewDelivery, Placement & ServicingEventPlacementTruck accessLevel groundSepticHandwash station

We're hosting Thanksgiving this year, around 45 relatives from noon until late evening. The house is on an older septic system and the last time we had a crowd this size the toilets were gurgling before dinner, so this year I'm renting a standard unit and a handwash station to take some load off.

The problem is the yard. The tank lid sits near the back corner of the house and the drain field runs right down the middle of the lawn toward the fence. The only level ground that isn't over the field is at the end of our gravel side driveway, maybe 60 feet from the back door.

Is there any real risk to the septic lines if the delivery truck pulls onto the grass? Should I flag the field before they show up, or just tell the office when I book? And is 60 feet too far for the older folks walking out there after dark?

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Luis A.Bozeman, MT

Yes, there is a real risk to your septic lines if the delivery truck drives over the drain field. The weight of a vacuum truck can crush the pipes and compact the soil, damaging the system. You must flag the drain field before the truck arrives and tell the rental office about the septic system when you book the rental. Instruct the driver to stay on the gravel driveway and not drive on the lawn.

The standard unit and handwash station for 45 people is a good plan. The industry guideline for events is about one unit per 50 to 75 people for a four-hour event. Your Thanksgiving gathering is longer, so one unit is adequate. The 60-foot walk is manageable, but add a solar light to the unit for safety after dark. Ensure the placement is on level ground at the end of the driveway with clear truck access for delivery and pickup.

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