Can I install a septic system myself?

Most areas require licensed designers or installers and inspections. Check with the El Paso County health department before planning any work yourself.

What is a mound system?

A mound system raises the drain field above the natural soil using sand and fill. It is used where the soil is too shallow, too wet or too slow draining for a conventional field.

Can a replacement system go in the same place?

Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the soil in the old field and local rules. Many replacements use a new area of the yard.

Who approves septic installations in Fountain?

Septic permits are usually handled at the county or state level. Contact the El Paso County health department to confirm the requirements for your property.

Septic System Installation in Fountain, CO

Whether you are building a new home in Fountain or replacing a system that has reached the end of its life, septic installation is a project that starts with the soil. The right system depends on your lot, your soil and the size of your household.

Request a call and a local septic company that installs systems in Fountain and Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs will explain the process from site evaluation to final inspection.

The installation process step by step

It starts with testing the soil to see how well it absorbs water. A designer or engineer then sizes the tank and dispersal area for the number of bedrooms. After the permit is approved, the crew excavates, sets the tank, installs the pipes and field, and schedules an inspection before backfilling.

Septic system types and when they fit

A conventional gravity system works where soil drains well and there is room for a field. Where soil is shallow, wet or slow, designers turn to pressure distribution, mound systems, chamber systems, drip dispersal or aerobic treatment units. The soil test, not preference, usually decides which one a lot needs.

Approvals you will need

Plan on a permit for any new or replacement system. Regulators typically want a site evaluation, a design that meets local code and an inspection before the system is covered. Your installer or designer often handles the paperwork, but the permit is tied to your property, so keep copies.

Understanding installation quotes

A complete quote should cover design, permits, excavation, the tank, the dispersal system, inspections and site restoration. Ask what is excluded, such as tree removal, electrical work for pumps or driveway repair. Compare quotes for the same system type.

Protecting your investment

A new system can last decades with basic care. Know where every part is, avoid planting trees near the field, send roof water away from it, and keep grease, wipes and chemicals out of the drains. Schedule the first inspection and pumping so you have a baseline for later visits.

Choosing an installation company

Look for experience with the soils and systems common around Fountain and Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, clear written quotes and a plan for permits and inspections. A good installer explains tradeoffs between system types rather than pushing one option.

Getting ready for installation day

Clear access for equipment, mark wells, underground utilities and sprinkler lines, and plan where soil and materials will be staged. Your Fountain installer will call in utility locates before digging. Expect some disturbance to the yard, which is regraded and seeded or restored as part of the job.

Common installation mistakes

The costliest mistakes are skipping the soil test, undersizing the system to save money, and building the field where water collects or where you later want a driveway or garage. Hiring an installer who does not handle permits can also delay the job or force rework after a failed inspection.

Replacing an old system in Fountain

When a system near Fountain fails, replacement often means a new drain field in a fresh part of the yard. The old tank may be pumped, crushed and filled, or reused if it is sound. El Paso County usually requires a permit and a final inspection. Ask for the as-built drawing once the work is done.

What Fountain's soil means for a new system

Soils around Fountain range from good to very limited, so the system type depends on the results of the soil test on your lot. Fountain gets about 14 inches of precipitation a year, so water table limits are less common, though your soil test still decides the design.

Local conditions in Fountain that affect septic installation

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Fountain, the USDA soil survey rates 54% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 29% as somewhat limited and 17% as not limited. The most common drainage class is well drained. Conditions vary from lot to lot here, so a site evaluation is the only way to know how well a particular yard will handle a drain field.

Fountain averages about 14 inches of precipitation a year, and July is usually the wettest month. December is the coldest month at about 32°F on average, so freezing is rarely the main concern here. Heavy rain and saturated ground are the bigger factors for drain fields.

Sources: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access; NASA POWER long-term climatology. Soil ratings describe mapped soil types near the city center and do not replace a site evaluation of your property.

What the soil around Fountain means for septic installation

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Fountain as 77% well drained, 16% somewhat excessively drained, 4% poorly drained, 3% excessively drained. Most of the soil here drains reasonably well, so a conventional trench field is often possible where the lot allows, but the soil test still decides.

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access

Septic companies near Fountain

These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Fountain, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.

D's Septic, Colorado Springs, CO, 15.8 mi
Custom Sewer & Septic Service, Colorado Springs, CO, 19.2 mi
On The Move Septic LLC, Pueblo West, CO, 25.0 mi
Abc Septic LLC, Divide, CO, 31.2 mi
Cut-Rate Sewer & Drain Service Inc, Pueblo, CO, 31.2 mi
Byrd's Sewer Rooter-Septic Tank, Canon City, CO, 32.9 mi

Septic Installation in nearby towns

We also cover septic installation in these towns near Fountain:

Colorado Springs, 13.1 mi
Manitou Springs, 17.1 mi

About Fountain, CO

Fountain is in El Paso County, Colorado. About 28,489 people live there, across 22.3 square miles of land (about 1,275 per square mile).

Septic Installation questions in Fountain

Can I install a septic system myself?: Most areas require licensed designers or installers and inspections. Check with the El Paso County health department before planning any work yourself.
What is a mound system?: A mound system raises the drain field above the natural soil using sand and fill. It is used where the soil is too shallow, too wet or too slow draining for a conventional field.
Can a replacement system go in the same place?: Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the soil in the old field and local rules. Many replacements use a new area of the yard.
Who approves septic installations in Fountain?: Septic permits are usually handled at the county or state level. Contact the El Paso County health department to confirm the requirements for your property.