Black clay, slow water
Heavy prairie clay swells when it’s wet, cracks when it’s dry and lets water through slowly. That’s hard on a conventional drain field, which depends on the soil soaking up effluent. On a lot of clay ground the answer is an aerobic system: air-treated, chlorinated effluent sprayed or dripped over a lawn area, where sun, plants and evaporation finish the job.
Living with an aerobic system
Aerobic systems need electricity, a working compressor, chlorine and a maintenance contract. The alarm is there for a reason: if it sounds, the system is telling you something has stopped. Don’t ignore it and don’t just silence it. Call, and go easy on water until it’s looked at.
Who permits septic here
Most of Elgin’s surrounding countryside is in Bastrop County, whose Development Services office permits septic systems. Some properties near Elgin sit across the line in Travis County, which runs its own program. We’ll check which office has your property before any work starts.
Elgin questions
Asked around Elgin.
Why do so many homes around Elgin have aerobic septic systems?
Because of the clay. Prairie clay soaks up water slowly and swells when wet, which can make a conventional drain field fail. Aerobic systems treat the wastewater first and then spray or drip it over a lawn area.
My aerobic alarm is going off. What should I do?
Cut back on water use and call. The alarm usually means high water in the pump tank or a failed compressor or pump. Don’t open the control panel or work on the wiring yourself.
Can my spray heads be near the house or the property line?
There are required setbacks, and your permit drawing shows where the spray area is allowed. Moving heads outside that area isn’t allowed without approval. We can check your heads against the permit.
Reviews
What customers wrote.
First time using a septic service. Cody was amazing and knocked our aerobic system out in 1 day. Communication was great and guided us in the right direction with an engineer and the permits. I won't be calling anyone else.
Such quality service!! Cody was so nice and informative and he showed up right on time. He gave many helpful tips and put us on a service schedule. Would highly recommend!
Great experience with Larry’s Tank Service! Showed up perfectly on time, did great work, was super informative, and very professional.