Can I plant Alder trees in a wet spot with buried pipework nearby?

I want to plant Alder trees in a spot with poor drainage to improve it. Can Alder roots affect pipework buried nearby, and how deep and wide do they grow?

Alder trees are a good choice for wet ground as they can tolerate such conditions, especially the grey alder. The roots of Alder trees can spread further than the branches, so they can potentially affect nearby pipework. However, the type of pipework matters. Foul sewers are usually well sealed and are not affected by roots, but land drains and percolation drains from a septic tank can be invaded and eventually blocked by tree roots. Such drains often have slots that allow water in or out, and roots can get in and fill the drain over time. To prevent this, drains are sometimes wrapped in a special woven membrane that blocks tree roots, but this needs to be put in with the drain and may need upkeep in future years as occasional breaches can still occur.