Septic in the Sacramento region
Most homes inside Sacramento city limits are on public sewer, but many properties in unincorporated Sacramento County and the surrounding rural and semi-rural areas rely on septic systems. If you're not sure, check your property tax bill or sewer bill, or ask the county.
Water tables and wet winters
Sacramento sits where the American and Sacramento rivers meet, and parts of the region are low-lying, with groundwater close to the surface in wet years. Most of the region's rain falls in winter, and long storms, along with winter tule fog that slows evaporation, can leave soils saturated for weeks. A drain field needs unsaturated soil beneath it to treat wastewater. When the soil is waterlogged, effluent has nowhere to go, and systems can back up or surface. That's why many septic problems in the region appear in winter and early spring.
During wet stretches, reduce water use: spread out laundry, take shorter showers, fix leaks and avoid running the dishwasher and washer at the same time. Make sure roof drains, downspouts and surface runoff are directed away from the drain field.
Flooding and septic systems
If floodwater covers your drain field or tank area, don't use the system until the water has receded and the soil has drained. Floodwater can enter the tank and force sewage back into the house. After a flood, have the system inspected and pumped if needed, and check that lids, risers and pipes weren't damaged. If you're on a private well, test it after flooding.
Older systems
Some older rural properties in the region have systems installed decades ago, sometimes with undersized tanks, no effluent filter, or drain fields that are near the end of their life. If you've bought an older property, find the system's permit records, have it pumped and inspected, and ask the contractor to evaluate the drain field.
Trees and landscaping
The region's large trees can send roots into septic lines and drain fields. Keep trees well away from the system, and plant only grass or shallow-rooted plants over the field. Avoid irrigating the drain field area heavily.
Permits and records
Septic repairs and replacements require a permit from Sacramento County's environmental health agency or the relevant local agency. Soil and groundwater conditions affect what kind of system is allowed. Ask your contractor to handle the permit and to give you copies of the records.
Before you hire
Ask septic contractors how they handle wet-season problems, whether they'll pump the tank through the main access and check the baffles and filter, whether they evaluate the drain field, and who handles permits. Look up the contractor's California license with the CSLB.
Records
Keep your system's permit, a location diagram, pumping receipts and inspection reports together. They help any contractor work faster and are valuable when you sell.
Risers
If your tank lids are buried, installing risers that bring them to the surface makes pumping and inspection faster and avoids digging up the yard every few years. It also helps the contractor find and examine the baffles.