Do graves fill with water?

This is a common question that people have about graves and burials. The short answer is that graves can fill with water under certain conditions, but not always. In this article, we’ll explore the factors that determine whether or not a grave might fill with water over time.

Table of Contents

What causes graves to fill with water?

The main reason that graves sometimes fill with water is because of a high water table. The water table refers to the level of groundwater in an area. If the water table is high, meaning groundwater is close to the surface, it can seep into graves and fill them with water. This is more likely to occur in low-lying areas or after heavy rains when the water table rises.

Some other potential causes of water filling graves include:

Flooding – If an area floods, water can inundate graves and fill them up.
Improper drainage – Poor drainage around a grave can lead to water pooling and seeping in.

Melting snow – In areas with cold winters, melting snow can drain into graves in the spring.
Plumbing leaks – Leaks from nearby plumbing lines or spigots can introduce water into the surrounding soil.

In general, any condition that introduces a large amount of water into the soil surrounding a grave can lead to water filling it under the right circumstances.

What factors determine if a grave will fill with water?

There are several key factors that determine the likelihood of water filling a grave over time:

Depth of burial – Graves that are dug deeper are less likely to fill with water from the water table or flooding.
Type of coffin/casket – A coffin made of non-watertight materials like wood will allow water to eventually seep in and fill the grave. Waterproof metal or plastic caskets provide a barrier.

Grave liner – Grave liners made of concrete or other waterproof materials help prevent water intrusion into the grave.
Drainage – Proper drainage via gravel, pipes, or sloping allows water to flow away from the grave. Poor drainage increases water seepage.
Soil composition – Clay soils provide a relatively impermeable barrier compared to loose or sandy soils.

Landscape slope – Graves on hillsides or sloped areas are less likely to pool water than those on flat ground.

Graves dug in low, flat, poorly drained areas with high water tables have the highest risk of filling with water over time. Adding grave liners, choosing watertight caskets, and providing effective drainage helps reduce this risk.

Do all graves eventually fill with water?

No, not all graves necessarily fill up with water over time. Well-drained graves at sufficient depth are unlikely to accumulate water under normal conditions. Here are some examples:

A grave in an arid climate may never fill with water due to lack of rainfall.
A grave dug into a hillside will not fill thanks to runoff and drainage.
A deep grave with a concrete liner will resist water intrusion from flooding.

A watertight metal casket prevents groundwater seepage into the grave.

However, under the wrong conditions, water intrusion can occur in any grave given enough time. Very shallow graves in floodplains or with high water tables will eventually fill unless special preventative measures are taken.

Do graves fill with groundwater or rainfall?

Graves can fill with either groundwater or rainfall depending on the environment:

Groundwater – A high water table is often the culprit when graves fill with water over years. The water table rises into the grave space and fills it like a container.
Rainfall – In flooding events or very wet climates, accumulated rainfall can pool inside graves, particularly if drainage is poor.

Typically, groundwater is the more common source of grave water intrusion as it’s constantly present underground. However, heavy rains can rapidly flood graves in low-lying areas before the water drains away.

Can graves fill with water even when sealed in a vault?

Yes, graves can still fill with water even when the casket is enclosed in a burial vault or grave liner. Here’s why:

Most vaults are not fully watertight, especially over decades of water exposure and soil stress.
Vault lids often leak at seams and joints where water enters.

Water fills the grave around the vault, presses in, and eventually intrudes into seams and joints.
Hydrostatic pressure from groundwater can push water through small vault cracks.
Backhoes and soil settling can create new cracks and gaps in vaults over time.

For these reasons, burial vaults provide only limited and temporary water resistance for graves. Given sufficient water exposure, virtually any grave can eventually fill with water, vault or no vault.

How long does it take for a grave to fill with water?

There is no set timeframe – graves can fill over weeks, months, years, or decades depending on these factors:

Water table level – The higher the water table, the faster it will rise into the grave.

Rainfall – More precipitation causes faster water accumulation.
Grave depth – Shallow graves fill more quickly.
Soil type – Sandy and porous soils transmit water faster.

Drainage – Good drainage slows water filling, poor drainage accelerates it.
Vaults/liners – Barriers like concrete liners slow the rate of filling.

For instance, an unlined grave might fill in just weeks after heavy rains, while a properly drained and lined grave at depth may take decades to fill with groundwater. However, given enough time, all graves are at risk of water intrusion.

Can anything be done to prevent graves from filling with water?

There are some strategies to help minimize graves filling up with water:

Dig graves at sufficient depth – At least 5-6 feet deep to get below the water table.
Install a gravel drainage layer beneath the casket.

Use a burial vault or concrete grave liner for water resistance.
Select high ground for the grave – Avoid low areas prone to flooding.
Slope the grave bottom from head to foot for drainage.

Backfill with gravel and sand to encourage drainage.
Cover the grave with an impermeable surface like concrete.

While not infallible, thoughtful grave design using barriers and drainage can significantly reduce the potential for water intrusion over time. However, under extreme conditions or given enough decades, even well-designed graves have some risk of eventually taking on water.

What happens when a grave fills with water?

Here are some of the potential effects when a grave fills up with water:

Caskets and human remains become submerged.
Caskets can buckle and collapse as water pressure builds.

Grave markers or ground can sink as soil erodes.
Drained graves can leave muddy depressions when dry.
Metal caskets may rust and deteriorate faster.

Flooded graves are impossible to access until drained.
Any electronics or valuables in casket are likely ruined.

Overall, water filling a grave degrades and damages the contents, creates soggy ground conditions, and prevents graveyard access until drained. While the water usually causes no public health hazard, it can create unpleasant aesthetics for visitors.

Are water-filled graves a health hazard?

Standing water in graves does not pose any significant biological hazard or toxicity threat:

Microbes from buried remains are unlikely to reach the surface through several feet of soil.
Modern embalming chemicals are fairly inert once cured.

Any displaced grave fluids are highly diluted and contained.
Nearby groundwater is not appreciably contaminated.

As a result, having graves pump or drain water is mainly an aesthetic maintenance issue, not a public health necessity. The water can simply be pumped out and discharged into a storm drain or ditch like any other runoff.

Water in graves summary

Here is a quick summary of key points on graves filling with water:

High water tables, flooding, and poor drainage cause water intrusion.
Grave depth, caskets, and liners affect water resistance.

Groundwater and rainfall both contribute to grave water.
Vaults slow but don’t prevent water filling graves eventually.
Filling can take anywhere from weeks to decades.

Prevention focuses on burial depth, drainage, liners, and site.
Water in graves degrades contents but causes minimal health risk.

While it’s impossible to keep all graves water-free forever, careful cemetery planning and grave construction can minimize problems with standing water and make maintenance easier when pumps or drainage are needed.

Conclusion

Graves filling with water is a common occurrence that depends on environmental factors like the water table, soil drainage, and rainfall. While water intrusion can’t be prevented indefinitely, choices in grave construction, depth, lining, and drainage can minimize the risks. If standing water does occur, it creates an aesthetic maintenance issue more than a health hazard. With careful design and maintenance, graves can remain dry and accessible for families to visit their loved ones.