Septic issues

Hi and thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to reply.

A couple weeks ago we had an issue where our lowest level toilet starting gurgling on a flush, then it finally backed up and overflowed.

Thinking that it may have been our septic tank, we had it pumped and at the time of the pumping, the guy said that he saw an accumulation of paper towels at the baffle that was most likely stopping flow into the tank. He went ahead and knocked it away, pumped the tank and everything pretty much went back to normal.

A couple days ago and again this morning, after doing some laundry, we started seeing water on the ground over the septic tank access fitting. Although we've had some rain lately, we haven't had alot in the last few days.

Could we be having problem with our drain field or is a blockage in the exit end of the tank more likely? It appears that water is flowing into the tank, but maybe not flowing out so well. With water moving to the drain field at a slower rate than that which is coming in, the tank is filling and we are then seeing the excess coming out of the top and draining into the ground over the tank.

We used to have a couple of Maple trees around the tank and the field but had them taken out 5+ years ago.

Any ideas as to what is going on would be appreciated, the pump out guys are coming back today to pump again and to do a "troubleshoot".

thanks

 

Please do NOT put paper towels in toilet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing but Scott toilet paper, thats it!

 

I would say if fluid is coming up from where the tank was pumped, it can only be a few things.

How can you tell the water is flowing into the tank if the water is overflowing the tank?

1 - The outlet baffle is plugged. Easy to check

2 - The pipe between the tank and the field (distribution box) may be plugged. Harder to check

3 - leach field is saturated and will need replacement. Easy to check.

 

so you dont have a sump pump pumping the fluid to the drain field, right?