Septic Services in Friendswood, TX

Friendswood homeowners pay $275-$425 for septic pumping, with most 1,000-gallon tanks around $325. Emergency service runs $475-$775.

Friendswood is an affluent suburb of about 40,000 people straddling the border of Galveston and Harris counties. The city is known for its tree-lined streets, strong schools, and well-kept neighborhoods. But much of Friendswood was built between the 1960s and 1980s, and many of those original homes still sit on their original septic systems. That means thousands of systems in this area are now 40 to 60 years old, pushing well past the typical 25-30 year lifespan of conventional tanks and drain fields. According to the EPA, over 2 million septic systems fail across the U.S. each year, with most malfunctions tied to poor maintenance or aging infrastructure (EPA 2022 Report to Congress).

If you're on septic in Friendswood, you're dealing with a combination of challenges that few other Texas cities share: dual-county jurisdiction, Gulf Coast clay, a high water table, mature trees sending roots into aging pipes, and the lasting effects of Hurricane Harvey flooding. You need a provider who knows exactly what they're walking into.

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Septic Services Available in Friendswood

Friendswood providers offer pumping ($275-$425), repair ($200-$10,000), inspections ($300-$500), and aerobic maintenance ($250-$425/year) for the area's aging septic infrastructure.

Friendswood's aging housing stock and Gulf Coast clay soils make proactive septic care more important here than in newer communities. Skipping maintenance in this environment leads to expensive failures fast.

Septic Pumping

Most Friendswood households should pump every 3-5 years, though families with four or more people should plan for every 2-3 years. A standard pump-out on a 1,000-gallon tank runs $275-$425. Many older Friendswood homes have steel or concrete tanks from the 1960s-1970s that were never designed to last this long. During pumping, your provider should check the tank walls, baffles, and inlet/outlet pipes for corrosion and cracking, problems that show up regularly in systems this old.

Septic Repair

Aging systems drive most of the repair work in Friendswood. Common jobs include replacing corroded baffles ($200-$500), fixing cracked tanks ($1,500-$3,500), clearing root-blocked pipes ($250-$600), and rebuilding failed drain fields ($4,500-$10,000). Properties with large live oaks, pecan trees, or other mature landscaping near the drain field are especially vulnerable. Root intrusion into 40-year-old clay or cast-iron pipes is one of the most frequent service calls in established Friendswood neighborhoods.

Septic Inspection

Inspections cost $300-$500 in Friendswood and are critical during home sales. Given the age of many local systems, inspectors should pay close attention to tank integrity, baffle condition, and signs of past flooding damage. Post-Harvey inspections run $375-$550 and include checks for soil displacement, tank shifting, and drain field saturation damage that may have gone unaddressed since 2017.

Aerobic System Maintenance

Per TCEQ's 30 TAC Chapter 285, a maintenance contract is required for any aerobic system, with inspections every four months. Aerobic units are becoming more common in Friendswood as older conventional systems fail and the clay soils won't support a replacement gravity drain field. Annual maintenance contracts run $250-$425. Your provider must file the contract with the permitting county, which depends on which side of the Galveston-Harris county line your property sits on.

Local Considerations for the Friendswood Area

Dual-county jurisdiction, 40-60 year old systems, Gulf Coast clay, and Hurricane Harvey damage create a unique combination of septic challenges in Friendswood.

Aging Systems on Original Septic

Friendswood's growth boom happened in the 1960s through 1980s. Developers built entire subdivisions with conventional septic systems designed to last 20-30 years. Many of those same systems are still in the ground today. Steel tanks from that era have often corroded through, concrete tanks show cracks and deteriorated baffles, and original clay or cast-iron drain pipes are brittle and root-damaged. As Nathan Glavy, a Texas Water Resources Institute Extension program specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife, notes, "Inspecting and maintaining septic systems can help prevent negative impacts on local water quality and public health." If your home was built before 1990 and you've never replaced the septic system, a professional inspection is overdue. Don't wait for a backup to find out your 50-year-old tank has failed.

Dual-County Jurisdiction

Friendswood straddles the Galveston-Harris county line, and this creates a permitting question most homeowners don't think about until they need work done. Your septic permit goes through whichever county your property actually falls in. Properties on the Galveston County side go through the Galveston County Health District (GCHD) at 409-938-2411. Properties on the Harris County side go through the Harris County On-site Sewage Facility program, accessible via their E-Permits portal or by calling 713-274-3800. Your provider needs to know which county you're in before pulling permits. Getting it wrong wastes time and delays the project.

Both counties enforce TCEQ's 30 TAC Chapter 285 standards, but they have separate application processes, fee schedules, and inspection timelines. Harris County allows online permit applications and gives the reviewing authority up to 30 business days. Galveston County requires a site evaluation form and schedules inspections with 24 hours' advance notice.

Gulf Coast Clay and High Water Table

Friendswood sits on Gulf Coast Vertisol clay, locally called "Black Gumbo." This soil is heavy in smectite clay that swells dramatically when wet and shrinks when dry. Per USDA Soil Survey data, Houston Black clay (a Texas Vertisol) develops cracks more than 4 inches wide and 12 inches deep that stay open for 90 to 150 days per year during dry conditions. These shrink-swell cycles crack foundations, shift tanks, and break drain field pipes. The same soil that makes foundation repair so common in Friendswood also destroys septic infrastructure.

The water table in low-lying areas near Clear Creek can sit just 2-4 feet below grade during wet seasons. TCEQ requires a minimum of 4 feet of unsaturated soil below any drain field. Seasonal water table fluctuations in Friendswood regularly push against that limit, which is why many replacement systems here require aerobic units, mound designs, or drip irrigation instead of conventional gravity drain fields.

Hurricane Harvey Legacy

Hurricane Harvey dumped over 40 inches of rain on the Houston region in August 2017, and Friendswood was hit hard. Clear Creek overflowed its banks, flooding hundreds of homes throughout the city. Septic systems that were submerged for days or weeks suffered drain field saturation, tank displacement, and soil compaction that many homeowners never addressed. If your property flooded during Harvey and your septic system hasn't been professionally inspected since, there's a real chance it's operating with hidden damage that's getting worse every year.

Septic Service Costs in Friendswood, TX

Most Friendswood homeowners pay $275-$425 for standard septic pumping, with the average around $325 for a 1,000-gallon tank.

Service	Friendswood Price Range
Standard pumping (1,000 gal)	$275 - $425
Large tank (1,500+ gal)	$400 - $600
Pumping + inspection	$450 - $650
Emergency/after-hours	$475 - $775
Locating buried tank lid	+$75 - $175
Aerobic maintenance (annual)	$250 - $425

Friendswood pricing runs above the state average because of the local challenges. Older systems often have buried or hard-to-find lids, corroded access points, and tight yard access from mature trees and established landscaping. The split county jurisdiction also means providers need to know which county's permitting process applies to your property, adding a layer of coordination that doesn't exist in single-county cities.

Prices based on February 2026 provider surveys and market data for the Friendswood area. Your actual cost depends on tank size, accessibility, system age, and property location.

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Why Work with a Local Friendswood Septic Pro

• They know aging systems. A provider who works Friendswood regularly has seen hundreds of 1960s-era steel tanks and original clay pipes. They know what to look for before it becomes a $10,000 problem.
• Dual-county permit expertise. Local pros know instantly whether your property falls under Galveston County or Harris County jurisdiction. They've worked with both permitting offices and can handle the paperwork without delays.
• Post-Harvey experience. Friendswood providers have spent years dealing with the aftermath of Harvey flooding on septic systems. They can identify hidden flood damage that providers from outside the area would miss.
• Root intrusion specialists. Mature live oaks and pecan trees are everywhere in Friendswood. Local pros know how to clear root-blocked lines and can recommend root barriers to protect aging drain fields.

Serving Friendswood and Surrounding Areas

We connect homeowners with septic professionals throughout the Friendswood area, including:

• League City
• Pearland
• Webster
• Clear Lake
• Dickinson
• Alvin
• La Marque
• Kemah
• Seabrook
• Manvel
• Iowa Colony
• Santa Fe

Frequently Asked Questions About Septic Services in Friendswood

How much does septic pumping cost in Friendswood?

Standard septic pumping in Friendswood costs $275-$425 for a 1,000-gallon tank, with most homeowners paying around $325. Larger 1,500-gallon tanks run $400-$600. Emergency and after-hours service ranges from $475-$775. Older properties with buried lids or difficult access typically cost more due to the extra time and equipment needed.

Which county handles my septic permit in Friendswood?

Your permit goes through whichever county your property falls in, either Galveston County or Harris County. Friendswood straddles both. Properties in Galveston County go through the Galveston County Health District (409-938-2411). Properties in Harris County go through the Harris County OSSF program (713-274-3800). Both counties enforce TCEQ's 30 TAC Chapter 285 standards, but they have separate application processes and fee schedules. Your septic provider should verify your county before starting any permitted work.

My Friendswood home was built in the 1970s. Should I worry about my septic system?

Yes, a 50-year-old system is well past the typical 25-30 year lifespan for steel tanks and original drain fields. Steel tanks from that era commonly show wall corrosion, baffle deterioration, and inlet/outlet pipe failures. According to the EPA, most septic malfunctions result from poor maintenance or inappropriate design. A professional inspection ($300-$500) can tell you whether the system is still functional or whether it's time to plan for replacement before an emergency forces the decision.

Should I repair or replace a failing septic system in Friendswood?

If your system is over 30 years old and needs drain field work, replacement usually makes more sense than repair. A $4,000-$5,000 drain field repair on a 50-year-old system is often money wasted when the tank itself may fail within a few years. Full replacement runs $8,000-$15,000 in the Friendswood area but gives you a modern system designed for local clay soil conditions. If the tank is still sound and only minor components need work, repair at $200-$600 is the better call.

Does Hurricane Harvey flooding still affect Friendswood septic systems?

Yes, systems that were submerged during Harvey may still have undetected damage nearly a decade later. Harvey dumped over 40 inches of rain on the Houston region, and Clear Creek flooding hit Friendswood hard. Septic systems that sat underwater for days often suffered tank shifting, soil compaction around drain fields, and saturated leach lines. If your property flooded and your system hasn't been inspected since 2017, a post-flood evaluation ($375-$550) is worth the investment.

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Last updated: February 9, 2026 Pricing based on Friendswood-area provider surveys and market data Sources: Galveston County Health District, Harris County OSSF Program, TCEQ, USDA Soil Series Data (Gulf Coast Vertisols), City of Friendswood, National Hurricane Center - Hurricane Harvey Report, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension