What will be the cost of my septic system?

Septic system designs are based on the number of bedrooms, the soil type, and the percolation rate of the soils on your property. 

The most important step in the designing of a septic system is the soil investigation process, or “test holes.” A test hole is an excavation showing an accurate cross-section of any and all soil, ledge rock, or groundwater that may be present on your property. The depth and number of “test holes” required may vary depending on the scope of your project and/or what is uncovered. Typically 2 to 4 test holes are excavated to a depth of 8 feet.

The excavation of “test holes” is a separate but critical part of the construction or repair of any septic system.  In many cases it is a different contractor who digs the “test holes” than who installs the system. While “test holes” and soil investigation are all that are required by the public health code, they often do not provide all relevant information. A site investigation is also highly recommended.

A site investigation involves a general review of existing conditions on your property (i.e. location/depth of existing septic system, confirmation of water supply, existing site contours, areas of special concern, etc.). Knowing the intricacies of your property is the only way to ensure sound estimating.  For example, investigating the current condition and elevation of your septic tank is crucial to the design of the repair as well as to the delivery of an accurate estimate. This is not required by the “test hole” process, and not having information like this can lead to unforeseen expenses during a project, thus not allowing for proper budgeting.

Once the site investigation and soil inspection have been performed, the proposed repair/design is submitted to the local health authority for approval. Once the “test hole” data has been recorded, that information is used along with the current public health code and existing site conditions to engineer a repair/system design. That repair/system design is then submitted to the local health authority for approval. After approval has been given, the construction process can begin.

The average system takes 3 days to install, start to finish. Typically the building served is only offline for a period of 4 hours during construction.