PROFESSIONAL SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATIONS
FOR LILLINGTON, SMITHFIELD, ANGIER, APEX, NC & BEYOND

Installation cost depends on your property's soil quality and characteristics, the number of bedrooms in your home, lot constraints such as size, contour, and natural bodies of water, landscape features such as pools, patios, trees, driveways, and fences, and also utilities such as irrigation, water lines, power lines, and wells. The cost will also vary depending on if the installation is for a newly built home or an existing home. On average the cost for the repair or installation of a conventional septic system ranges from $8,000.00 to $15,000.00. In special cases requiring the use of panel blocks the cost can exceed $20,000.00, and in cases requiring the use of advanced pretreatment with specialized dispersal the cost can exceed $50,000.00. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to complete the application for a septic system permit with your local environmental health department in order to provide Holland Septic Services, LLC with the Construction Authorization containing the actual septic system that has been designed and tailored for your specific property.

On top of the system itself, each county charges its own permit fee, which varies depending on if the application is for a new system or for a repair on an existing system. Lee County charges $1,050.00 for new septic permits and $75.00 for repair, Harnett County charges $750.00 for new septic permits and no fee for repair, Johnston County charges $600.00 for new septic permits, and no fee for repair, and Wake County charges $800.00 for new septic system permits and $800.00 for repair. Each county allows only the homeowner to apply for these applications.

Yes. Every county in our service area, from Harnett to Wake to Lee, and Johnston, requires an Improvement Permit before any new system goes into the ground. Each county in NC requires this. Some types of repairs also require permits. Septic system repairs that require permits include septic tank replacement, drain line replacement, increasing the septic tank size, increasing the drain field size, or relocation of septic tank or drain field lines. Some repairs fall into the maintenance category, and therefore, do not require a permit. These include, but are not limited to: distribution box replacement, pump replacement, pump control panel replacement, pump/alarm float replacement, and riser installation.

The process for permitting a new system and repair or relocation/expansion of an existing drain field begins with the Improvement Permit. This is the step where the soil evaluation takes place by the local health department or a private soil scientist. Once the soil has been evaluated, the authorized agent, whether they are an environmental health specialist or soil scientist, will make a determination if the property has usable soil and space to accommodate an on-site wastewater system, and then they will determine the type of system allowed as well as the maximum daily design flow. This permit is typically valid for 5 years. After the Improvement Permit is approved, the agent will then submit a detailed design in the Construction Authorization that will specify the septic tank and drain field size and layout. Any site specific requirements will also be specified by the agent on this permit. Once the Construction Authorization is approved, the septic system installation can take place. The Construction Authorization is also valid for 5 years. The last permit issued by the health department is the Operation Permit. Once the system is installed, and prior to covering up, the authorized agent will make a site visit to inspect the work, take measurements and grade shots, and then draw an as-built diagram of the system. Once the installation passes this final inspection, everything can then be covered up. The application for this three tiered permit must be completed by the homeowner. The contractor is not allowed to apply for this permit.

Permit turnaround differs by county, and Johnston County's posted response time can run up to five weeks. Wake County can also take up to four weeks for new systems. North Carolina also allows a private soil scientist with the Advanced On-Site Wastewater System Evaluator credentials to issue permits. Under current regulations, an engineer with the proper credentials can also issue permits under the Engineered Option Permitting rules. Turn around time for repairs generally varies depending on the severity of the need for the repair. If the repair constitutes an immediate threat to the life, safety, or health of the public, it will be prioritized over a new septic system or a septic system expansion. Tank replacements generally arise from an unsafe tank condition such as severe corrosion of the concrete, large cracks and deformations, and total tank collapse. Tank replacements pose the greatest threat to the life and safety of the public. Health hazards generally arise from drain field malfunction, which sometimes result in the surfacing of wastewater in the drain field area. The actual installation of the system or repair typically takes 1 to 2 days for a conventional septic system.

Not every malfunctioning septic system needs total replacement. Stephen holds North Carolina's highest installer certification along with a licensed septic inspector and sub-surface wastewater operator credential, so an honest experienced evaluation of your septic system is crucial to determining whether the system can be repaired with routine maintenance or if a permit for repair/replacement is needed.

The answer to this question boils down mostly to the characteristics of the soil on your property, topography, slope and landscape positioning, size of the property, and the number of bedrooms in the home. Sandy soil common in western Cumberland, Moore, and parts of Harnett and Sampson counties generally drains well and works well with a conventional septic system. This assumes that there is sufficient slope from the plumbing drain to the septic tank, and then to the drain field in order to keep the depth of the drain field the proper elevation above any restrictive soil horizon or soil wetness condition. Heavier clay soil across Wake, Lee, and parts of Harnett drains more slowly and often calls for larger drain fields. On lots that have less than ideal slope or topography, a pump system may be required to get the wastewater to the best area for the drain field. Lots that do not contain a lot of space with usable soil may require permeable panel block systems to reduce the footprint of the drain field. Lots that do not contain soil suitable for use with a conventional system may require low-pressure pipe systems also referred to as an LPP system or an advanced pretreatment system such as aerobic treatment unit with drip system dispersal. Fill systems or mound systems may also be an option to agents designing the system for your particular lot, if the site is limited due to poor soil or soil wetness conditions. In short, there is always an option, but using the right tool for the job is critical for a well functioning septic system. A soil evaluation during the permit process determines exactly which system your property needs, and it is also a crucial step for anyone looking to purchase a property that will require a septic system. Having the soil evaluation performed prior to purchasing a property will allow you to get ballpark figures for your home's septic system.