Septic Systems in Texas: A Homeowner's Guide to TCEQ Rules, Pumping & Repairs

By Brian Srba, TREC-licensed home inspector (#27151-PI), Shadow Inspections · Serving Fort Worth, Weatherford, Aledo, Granbury and Stephenville

Quick answer: In Texas, a septic system is legally called an on-site sewage facility (OSSF). The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sets the rules, and your county or city issues permits. Pump a conventional tank every 3 to 5 years. Keep an aerobic system under a licensed maintenance contract for at least its first two years. Get a permit before you repair, replace or alter any part of the system.

If your home in Parker, Hood, Erath or rural Tarrant County isn't on city sewer, this guide covers what the state requires of you and how to keep the system working. The rules come from Title 30, Texas Administrative Code Chapter 285.

Key Texas septic numbers

What kind of septic system do I have?

Most homes in North Texas have one of two systems.

A conventional system is a septic tank that drains by gravity into a drainfield of perforated pipe and gravel, leaching chambers or gravel-less pipe. It has few moving parts.

An aerobic treatment unit (ATU) pumps air into the tank so bacteria break waste down further, then disinfects the water, usually with chlorine, and sprays it over the yard or sends it through drip lines. Sprinkler heads in the yard and an air pump or control panel near the tank usually mean you have an aerobic system.

Aerobic systems are common in Parker, Hood and Erath County because much of the land has dense clay or shallow rock that won't absorb wastewater well enough for a conventional drainfield. (Clay soil causes foundation problems too. See what a Granbury-area inspection looks for.) Before any system is designed, TCEQ requires a licensed site evaluator or professional engineer to check soil texture, groundwater depth, restrictive layers and slope. Most system types need at least 2 feet of suitable soil above groundwater or a restrictive layer.

How often should I pump my septic tank in Texas?

Pump a conventional tank every 3 to 5 years. TCEQ sets that range to prevent “short circuiting,” where solids leave the tank and clog the drainfield. The exact interval depends on how many people live in the house and how big the tank is. Texas residential tanks commonly hold 750 to 2,500 gallons.

Aerobic tanks don't run on a fixed calendar. Your maintenance provider measures sludge depth on each visit, and the tank gets pumped when it reaches the manufacturer's limit.

Use a TCEQ-registered sludge hauler. You can check a hauler's registration in TCEQ's licensing search.

What are the rules for aerobic septic systems in Texas?

Aerobic systems come with more legal requirements than conventional ones.

Maintenance. You need a contract with a licensed maintenance provider. Two years after installation you may maintain the system yourself, but only if your county allows it. Check before you cancel a contract.

The contract. It must list what's covered, how fast the provider responds to complaints, who does the work, how often they visit and test, and who maintains the disinfection unit.

Reports. The provider checks every component on each visit and sends a report to you and to the permitting authority at least once every four months, or every six months if the system has electronic monitoring. Test results are due within 14 days of the test.

Chlorine. Use only calcium hypochlorite tablets that the EPA has certified for wastewater. Never use swimming pool tablets. TCEQ warns they dissolve differently and can react with wastewater to release nitrogen chloride gas, which can explode.

Septic do's and don'ts

Do:

• Pump on schedule and keep the receipts. Buyers and inspectors will ask for them.
• Spread out laundry and other heavy water use. Sending more water than the system was built for is the most common cause of failure.
• Check toilets for leaks by putting water-based dye in the tank and watching the bowl.
• Know where your tank, lids and drainfield or spray area are.

Don't:

• Build a driveway, patio, sidewalk, shed or addition over any part of the system.
• Drive or park over the tank or drainfield.
• Add chemical or enzyme treatments. TCEQ advises against them.
• Flush wipes, tissues, cigarette butts or trash, or pour grease and food waste down the drain.

What are the signs of a failing septic system?

Slow drains, gurgling pipes, sewage smells, soggy ground or standing water over the drainfield, a patch of grass greener than the rest, sewage backing up into the house, or an alarm on an aerobic control panel.

TCEQ lists five common causes:

1. 01Too much water. More flow than the system was designed for.
2. 02Soil problems. Groundwater, restrictive layers or seasonal saturation that weren't found when the system was designed.
3. 03Too much waste. Excess food, grease or solids.
4. 04Skipped pumping.
5. 05Age. Systems over 15 years old may need replacement.

Do I need a permit to repair my septic system in Texas?

Yes, almost always. Texas requires a permit to construct, install, alter, extend or repair an OSSF. Replacing a tank and repairing a drainfield both need one. The permitting authority has 30 days to approve or deny the application.

There are four exceptions:

• Emergency repairs, such as a broken tank lid or a failed disinfection device, can start right away. Report them in writing to the permitting authority within 72 hours.
• The 10-acre exemption covers a system serving one single-family home on 10 or more acres, provided it has a site evaluation, every part sits at least 100 feet from the property line, wastewater stays on the property, and the system isn't causing a nuisance or pollution.
• Grandfathered systems were installed before September 1, 1989, or before your local program began, whichever came first. They can stay in use if they aren't causing a nuisance, don't need repair, and haven't seen a big increase in use.
• Homeowner installation is allowed for a single-family home you own, if your county allows it. Anyone who helps you, other than a licensed electrician or the tank delivery driver, must be a licensed installer.

Who issues septic permits in my county?

• Hood County (Granbury, Lipan, Tolar, Lake Granbury): Hood County Environmental Health, 5417 Acton Hwy, Suite 102, Granbury, TX 76049, (817) 579-3288. The county says it usually issues complete applications within five business days. Aerobic systems need a maintenance contract and an affidavit filed with the County Clerk, which puts future buyers on notice that the system exists.
• Parker County (Weatherford, Aledo, Springtown): Parker County runs its own OSSF permitting program.
• Tarrant County (unincorporated areas): Tarrant County Public Health.
• Erath County and everywhere else: look up your county in TCEQ's permitting authority search.

Your county's rules can be stricter than the state's. Call before you start any work.

How do I hire a septic installer in Texas?

TCEQ recommends that you:

• Get at least three estimates and call references.
• Verify the license in TCEQ's OSSF professional search and check TCEQ's list of court judgments against OSSF professionals.
• Avoid paying large amounts up front.
• Put every decision in writing so the installed system matches the permit.

Buying or selling a home with a septic system

TCEQ doesn't regulate septic inspections done for a home sale, but your lender may require a septic inspection. After closing, TCEQ advises new owners to notify the local permitting authority and ask whether the system has startup or maintenance-contract requirements. That matters most with aerobic systems, which need an active contract.

If you're still shopping, see what a Granbury-area inspection covers, including wells and septic systems.

How do I report a failing septic system or a bad contractor?

File the complaint with your local permitting authority. It must investigate within 30 days. If the problem isn't resolved, go to the authority's supervising official, such as the county judge, and then to your TCEQ regional office. You can file anonymously, and TCEQ never tells the person you reported who filed. TCEQ's OSSF program in Austin is at (512) 239-3799 or ossf@tceq.texas.gov.

FAQ: Texas septic systems

Sources: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, On-Site Sewage Facilities: Information for Homeowners, with linked pages on maintenance, owner advice, system types, permitting and complaints; Hood County Environmental Health, OSSF Permitting Procedures.

Shadow Inspections inspects homes in Fort Worth, Weatherford, Aledo, Granbury and Stephenville, TX, and offers septic inspection and well testing as add-ons for rural properties. Contact us to schedule.