First-Time Septic Owner? What Texas Homeowners Need to Know (2026)

About 20% of Texas homes use septic. Conventional systems need pumping every 3-5 years, and aerobic systems require a TCEQ-mandated maintenance contract.

If you just bought a home on septic or built new construction outside a city sewer line, you're joining roughly 2.6 million Texas households. According to the EPA, about one in five American homes uses a septic system, and Texas adds approximately 45,000 new systems each year (per Comal County and TCEQ permitting data). Septic systems aren't complicated once you understand the basics, but they do need attention that city sewer never required.

This guide covers everything you need to know in your first year: how your system works, what Texas requires, what it costs, and the mistakes that lead to expensive problems.

How Does a Septic System Work?

A septic system treats wastewater on your property using a tank to separate solids and a drain field (or spray system) to disperse treated water into the soil.

Texas homes use one of two main system types:

Conventional (anaerobic) systems are the simpler option. Wastewater flows from your house into a buried tank, usually 1,000 to 1,500 gallons. Solids settle to the bottom as sludge, grease floats to the top as scum, and the liquid in the middle flows out to a drain field. Soil bacteria do the final treatment as water filters through the ground.

Aerobic systems are more common in Texas than most states. As Texas A&M AgriLife Extension notes, most Texas soils can't properly absorb pollutants through a conventional drain field, so alternative treatment methods are required. These systems add an air pump that feeds oxygen to bacteria inside the tank, producing cleaner wastewater. The treated water gets dispersed through spray heads in your yard or a drip irrigation system.

Feature	Conventional	Aerobic
How it treats waste	Bacteria in tank + soil filtration	Oxygen-fed bacteria in tank
Dispersal method	Underground drain field	Spray heads or drip lines
Moving parts	None	Air pump, spray pump, control panel
Electricity needed	No	Yes
Maintenance contract	Not required	Required by TCEQ
Annual maintenance cost	$100-$300	$250-$400
Common in Texas because	Works in sandy/loamy soil	Required for clay soil, small lots

If you're not sure which type you have, look for spray heads in your yard (aerobic) or a large rectangular area of lush grass (conventional drain field). An alarm panel on an exterior wall or near the tank is another sign of an aerobic system.

What Does Texas Law Require from Septic Owners?

TCEQ regulates all septic systems in Texas, but your county handles permits and inspections. Aerobic systems have stricter requirements than conventional.

Here's what Texas law says you're responsible for:

For all systems:

• Your county issued a permit when the system was installed. That permit stays with the property. Contact your county's environmental health office to look up your system's records.
• Only TCEQ-licensed professionals can install, repair, or modify your system. You can do basic maintenance on your own home.
• Keep the area over your drain field or spray zone clear. No parking, no sheds, no heavy equipment.

For aerobic systems only:

• Per Texas Health and Safety Code Section 366.0515 and 30 TAC Section 285.7, you must maintain a service contract with a TCEQ-licensed maintenance provider. This is state law, not optional.
• Your provider inspects the system at least three times per year and submits reports to the county.
• The initial permit covers two years. After that, keep your maintenance contract current.
• If you want to do your own maintenance, some counties allow it with a notarized Routine Maintenance Affidavit filed with county records. Check with your county first.

Finding your system records: Start at your county's environmental health or development services website. Many Texas counties use the MyGovernmentOnline portal for permit lookups. You can also search TCEQ's Records Online database for historical permitting data.

What Should You Do in Your First Year with a Septic System?

In your first year, locate your system, get it inspected, establish a pumping schedule, and start an aerobic maintenance contract if needed.

Here's what to do in order:

Month 1: Know your system

• Find out if you have conventional or aerobic (check for spray heads, alarm panel)
• Locate your septic tank lid (check the property survey or ask neighbors with similar builds)
• Find the drain field or spray zone and mark it mentally
• If aerobic, locate the alarm panel and learn what the lights mean
• Pull permits and records from your county

Month 2-3: Get a professional assessment

• If the seller didn't provide a recent inspection, hire a TCEQ-licensed inspector. Budget $300-$500.
• Ask when the tank was last pumped. If nobody knows, get it pumped now.
• For aerobic systems, establish a maintenance contract. Budget $200-$400 per year.

Month 6: Settle into routine

• Know where your tank is and how to check if it's accessible
• Understand your water usage patterns
• Start a maintenance log (date pumped, any issues, provider name)

Ongoing:

• Follow the septic maintenance checklist
• Pump every 3-5 years for conventional (sooner for larger households)
• Keep aerobic maintenance contract active
• Watch for warning signs of septic problems

How Much Does Septic Maintenance Cost in Texas?

Budget $100-$300 per year for a conventional system and $250-$400 per year for an aerobic system, plus pumping costs of $235-$485 every 3-5 years.

Expense	Conventional	Aerobic
Annual maintenance contract	Not required ($0)	$200-$400/year
Pumping (every 3-5 years)	$235-$485	$235-$485
Annualized pumping cost	~$60-$120/year	~$60-$120/year
Electricity for system	$0	$10-$30/month
Total annual cost	$60-$120	$390-$640

First-year costs may be higher because you might need an inspection ($300-$500), initial pumping ($235-$485), and possibly a maintenance contract setup. Budget $500-$1,000 for your first year on a conventional system, and $800-$1,500 for aerobic.

For a full breakdown of Texas septic pricing, see our septic pumping cost guide.

What Are the Biggest Mistakes New Septic Owners Make?

The most common mistake is treating a septic system like city sewer. Your septic has limits that city sewer doesn't.

1. Flushing things that don't belong. Only human waste and toilet paper should go in your toilet. No wipes (even "flushable" ones), feminine products, condoms, cat litter, or paper towels. See our full list of what not to put in your septic system.

2. Pouring grease down the kitchen drain. Cooking oil and grease solidify in your tank and clog pipes. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel first, and pour cooled grease into the trash.

3. Using too much water at once. Running the dishwasher, washing machine, and showers all at the same time floods your system. Spread out water-heavy tasks throughout the day.

4. Ignoring the aerobic system alarm. That alarm exists for a reason. It means something is wrong. Reduce water use and call your maintenance provider within 24 hours.

5. Parking or driving over the drain field. Heavy weight compacts the soil and crushes pipes. Keep vehicles, sheds, and even above-ground pools off the drain field area.

6. Skipping pumping because nothing seems wrong. By the time you notice problems, the damage is often done. Compare: a $300 pumping every 3-5 years vs. a $5,000-$15,000 drain field replacement or $7,000-$20,000 full system replacement. Preventive maintenance wins every time.

7. Using harsh chemicals. Bleach, drain cleaners, antibacterial products, and paint can kill the bacteria your system needs to function. Use septic-safe cleaning products.

What Makes Septic Ownership Different in Texas?

Texas has unique septic factors including clay soils, the Edwards Aquifer protection zone, and a county-by-county permitting system.

Clay soil is everywhere. The Blackland Prairie running from Dallas through Austin to San Antonio has expansive clay that swells when wet and cracks when dry. This clay drains poorly, which is why aerobic systems are so common in Texas. If you're in this zone, expect aerobic requirements for any new installation.

The Edwards Aquifer matters. If your property sits over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in Central Texas (parts of Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bexar, and Comal counties), your septic rules are stricter. Conventional drain fields typically aren't allowed because pollutants can reach the aquifer through porous limestone.

Every county is different. Texas has 254 counties, and each handles septic permitting differently. Some have detailed fee schedules and online portals. Others require you to call the office. Your county's environmental health department is always your first call for permit questions.

The 10-acre consideration. TCEQ's base rules allow some permitting flexibility for properties of 10 acres or more with a single residence and proper setbacks. But many counties override this with their own local orders. Check with your specific county before assuming you're exempt from anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out what kind of septic system I have?

Look for spray heads in your yard (aerobic) or a large rectangular area of especially green grass (conventional drain field). An alarm panel on an exterior wall or near the tank also indicates an aerobic system. For official records, contact your county's environmental health office or search TCEQ's Records Online database with your property address.

Do I need a maintenance contract for my septic system?

If you have an aerobic system, yes. Texas law requires a maintenance contract with a TCEQ-licensed wastewater treatment company. Your provider handles inspections (at least three per year) and reports to the county. Conventional systems don't require a contract, but scheduled pumping every 3-5 years is still your responsibility.

How much should I budget for septic maintenance per year?

Budget $100-$300 per year for a conventional system and $400-$640 per year for an aerobic system, including electricity. These numbers cover routine maintenance only. Set aside an additional $500-$1,000 as a reserve for unexpected repairs, especially in your first few years while you're learning the system.

What happens if I don't maintain my septic system?

Neglected systems fail, and failure is expensive. According to the EPA, more than 10% of septic systems are non-functional at any given time, often due to lack of maintenance. A clogged drain field costs $5,000-$12,000 to replace. A complete system replacement runs $7,000-$20,000+ depending on type. Regular pumping ($235-$485 every 3-5 years) and basic care prevent the vast majority of failures.

I just bought a house and don't know anything about the septic system. Where do I start?

Start by calling your county's environmental health office with your property address. They can tell you what type of system you have, when it was permitted, and what records exist. Then hire a TCEQ-licensed septic company to inspect and pump the tank. Budget $500-$800 for the inspection and initial pumping combined.

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Last updated: February 7, 2026 Reviewed by: Texas Septic Guide Editorial Team, content verified against TCEQ homeowner guidance and 30 TAC Chapter 285

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Sources: EPA Septic Systems Program; TCEQ homeowner guidance for septic systems; TCEQ OSSF permitting data; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension OSSF Program; Comal County OSSF data; Texas provider surveys 2025-2026; 30 TAC Chapter 285.