AFFORDABLE SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN Springville, NY

What Is the Process for Septic Tank Installation in Springville?

If you already have a septic system at your Springville home, and it fails, the new septic tank installation is fairly straightforward. First, submit an application and $300 fee to the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH.) Once the county assesses the degree of failure and the required repairs, they will issue specifications for a new septic system.

• Things can get a bit tricky if you’re one of the 5,500 Springville residents who rely on well water. 
• You must disclose the location of a well on the application to ECDOH.
• And the EC sanitarian will inspect your well throughout the construction of your new septic system.
• Before this inspection, it is recommended that you disinfect your well, so check out Erie County’s well disinfection procedures. 

Once a soil test is done and permitting is acquired, we can begin excavating for the tank. We then install the new system and connect it to your existing plumbing. The city will need to return to the property for a post-installation inspection, after which we can test the system and backfill around the area.

How Does Permitting Work for Installing Septic Tanks in Springville?

Prospective homebuilders cannot build their septic systems in Springville. You will need to involve a professional like Mr. Blue Plumbing.

The Erie County official website says if you’re building a new home in Erie County that requires a septic system, an “onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS)”, you must hire a licensed design professional like us. We’ll help design the appropriate system.

Next, we will submit our plans to the ECDOH with an Application for Septic Tank Installation. There is also a $300 fee that needs to be paid.

Once the application, fee, and plans are received, the county will review the septic system project. Next, the county will issue a construction permit when they deem the project is safe. Now we can move forward with a new septic tank installation in Springville.

How Much Does Septic Tank Installation Usually Cost in Springville?

The average cost to install a septic tank ranges from around $3,000 up to $11,000 in this part of Western New York. But there are many factors at play!

Springville is a gorgeous place to live with meandering streams, sloping foothills, and the occasional rocky boulder. Those same features that make Springville beautiful also make it a challenge for septic tank installation. But no matter what your yard looks like, some issues like septic tank size and construction will always matter. 

Cost Factor: Septic System Size

It makes sense that a 5,000-gallon concrete septic tank will cost more to install than a 2,000-gallon tank. The size of your home and family matters, too. Does your home have one bathroom or four? Remember, every sink and appliance will drain into the septic tank, and each will need plumbing. The size of the drain field is also a cost factor. Larger drain fields cost more to dig. 

Cost Factor: Local Surroundings and Your Yard

All septic systems work on the notion that solid wastes will be broken down in the tank, while liquids will move to the drain field, eventually filtering down into groundwater. Biohazard human waste mustn’t contaminate surface water, like the streams and creeks of Springville. If a stream or creek runs across your property, this can change how a septic tank is installed and make it more costly. 

Cost Factor: Septic System Type

The EPA says there are at least ten different types of septic systems used in the US. Depending on the size of tank you need, a conventional concrete septic tank may be less expensive to install than aerobic tanks (which require access to electricity and oxygen).

Let’s take a closer look at the types of septic tanks that might be right for Springville.

What Type of Septic Tank Is Best For Residents in Springville?

Septic tanks vary in size and other details. Your choice in a septic system must consider the size of your family and the amount of wastewater you create, the size of your property, the water table in your neighborhood, and your willingness to deal with pumps or electricity (maintenance).

Conventional Septic Systems — Probably the Best Choice for Springville Homeowners

Conventional septic systems are usually appropriate for single-family homes, individual mobile homes, or small businesses. They typically involve a durable concrete septic tank, but septic tanks can be found made of other lighter materials, too. 

The classic gravel/stone drain field design has been around for decades. With this design, effluent (wastewater) is piped from the tank to a shallow underground trench. A geofabric liner is placed on the trench so sand, dirt, and other contaminants don’t enter.

• Wastewater filters down through the stone, thanks to gravity.
• Once it reaches the soil below, it is further treated by natural microbes. 

While they’re probably the most popular septic tank style in Springville, conventional systems need a relatively large footprint. So they aren’t suitable for every site. 

Gravel-less Chamber Style Septic Systems

Gravel-less drain fields are becoming more popular. There are several sub-styles available:

• Open-bottom chambers
• Fabric-wrapped pipe
• And some are made with synthetic materials

“Green-minded” homeowners appreciate that a gravel-less system can be manufactured with recycled materials and reduce a homeowner’s carbon footprint significantly. 

The main advantage of a chamber system is the ease of delivery and construction. They work well in areas with high groundwater tables, so they might be ideal for your Springville residence at the bottom of a valley. They’re also a good choice at seasonal summer homes or hunting camps, where the volume of wastewater is variable.

As their name implies, these systems consist of a series of connected chambers. The area around the chambers is filled with soil. Pipes carry wastewater from the tank to the chambers. In the chambers, microbes on or near the soil treat the waste.

Evapotranspiration Septic Systems — Not a Great Choice for Springville

Evapotranspiration systems work a little differently and probably aren’t the best choice for Springville homeowners. We’ll explain them, but we urge you to consider a gravel-less or conventional system first.

These septic systems have unique drain fields — they’re lined with waterproof material. Wastewater enters the drain field, then evaporates into the air. So, the effluent never filters to the soil and never reaches groundwater.

You may be wondering if these types of septic tanks smell bad. Generally, no. But as with any septic system you have installed, it’s time for maintenance if you sense that sewage odor. We’ll talk more about that in a moment. 

As a rule, these septic systems work best in a dry location with lots of sun and very little snow. If the septic system is covered in snow — as it often would be in Springville — it won’t work.

Mound Septic Systems — Appropriate If You Have Plenty of Room

Mound septic systems are an option in neighborhoods with shallow soil, high groundwater, or shallow bedrock. The constructed sand mound contains a drain field. Wastewater from the tank flows to a pump chamber first. There, it is pumped to the mound in prescribed amounts. Then, the effluent is treated as it filters down through the sand and is finally dispersed into the native soil.

Mound systems can be a good solution, but they require a lot of space, electricity for the pump, and periodic maintenance. In our experience, they are a good solution for medium-sized businesses, churches, and smaller schools. These systems generally require inspection and service more often than a conventional septic system, so many homeowners in Springville prefer the conventional style. 

How Often Do Homeowners in Springville Need to Have Their Septic Tank Inspected?

There are no requirements that state that Springville-area septic tank to be inspected every X years. However, the EPA website says a professional like us should inspect an average residential septic system every three years. You’ll also need to have the septic tank pumped every three to five years as well. If your septic system involves pumps, electrical float switches, or other mechanical components we may need to inspect it more often, even annually. 

Four factors affect the frequency of septic pumping:

• Household size — both the number of individuals living in a home and the number of bathrooms and appliances that drain into it
• The total amount of wastewater generated — remember, every time you flush the toilet or run the dishwasher, you’re sending effluent to the tank
• The volume of solids in wastewater — you should use garbage disposals sparingly
• The size of your septic tank — a 5,000-gallon septic tank can hold more material than a 2,000 tank

Beyond that, you should contact us to inspect your septic tank before buying a new home or selling your current home. Don’t move into a house with a septic tank without having it inspected! You may discover the home needs a $15,000 septic system replaced, and cash is always tight when moving into a new house. 

Septic tanks can also become clogged. Children must learn what can be safely flushed. And while most toilet paper will break down in a septic tank, other hygiene products will not. They can clog your system and you’ll need professional assistance.

We think the EPA website says it best: “Your septic system is not a trash can!”.

Never flush:

• Cooking grease 
• Baby wipes or other wet wipes
• Photographic solutions
• Dental floss
• Diapers
• Cigarette butts
• Coffee grounds
• Kitty litter
• Paper towels
• Pharmaceuticals or medical devices, sharps or “needles”
• Any household or garage chemical like gasoline or paint thinners

Are There Any Rebates Available For Septic Tank Services in Springville?

Sadly, no. There are no rebates available for septic tank services in Springville.