Alex Rusev leads the installation side of Rock Solid Septic & Excavation, supervising new septic system installations, drain field replacements, and major repairs from site preparation through final backfill. He has worked alongside his brother, John (Ivan) Rusev, since the company’s earliest days in 2021, when Rock Solid was still a small excavation outfit in Spartanburg, and he helped grow it into a septic contractor serving homeowners across five Upstate South Carolina counties.

Most of Alex’s day is spent in the dirt. John (Ivan) handles estimates and scheduling, while Alex oversees the fieldwork, checking excavation conditions against the approved plans and identifying issues that may require further evaluation.

South Carolina issues septic installer licenses in tiers through the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), and each tier caps the complexity of the systems a contractor may build. Alex holds Tier 3 license OSWWI0667, the highest installer level the state offers.

This credential covers systems authorized under Tiers 1 and 2, as well as specialized systems covered by Standard 610, subject to applicable permitting and regulatory requirements. For homeowners whose properties require specialized septic systems, Alex's Tier 3 license allows Rock Solid to handle qualifying installations once the appropriate design has been prepared and approved. This means homeowners can continue working with the same installation contractor instead of finding another crew qualified to install the approved system.

Lower installer tiers are limited to simpler designs, so a contractor holding one may have to stop work or hand the job off when site conditions push the project into engineered territory. With Alex overseeing the installation, Rock Solid can identify unexpected site conditions, coordinate necessary design changes with qualified professionals, and continue the work once the required approvals are in place.

Alex is known for a practical, field-based understanding of South Carolina soils, and his starting assumption on every job is that the surface tells you very little. Two neighboring lots can look identical from the street and behave completely differently a few feet down.

“You can’t tell just by looking at a yard,” Alex says. “Your neighbor’s soil could be really good and then your soil could be horrible.”

Across much of the Upstate, Piedmont red clay drains slowly, and pockets of better or worse soil can sit within the same backyard. Alex pays close attention to the soil conditions exposed during excavation and checks them against the approved installation plans. Unexpected conditions must be addressed before the system is completed to reduce the risk of future performance problems.

On low-lying lots and properties near creeks, the seasonal water table can rise close enough to the drain field to keep wastewater from filtering properly. On properties with high seasonal groundwater or poorly draining soil, Alex evaluates the installation conditions against the approved plans. If a conventional system is unsuitable, the project may require a specialized design that accounts for the site's soil and groundwater conditions.

Engineered systems use components such as pumps and alternative drain field designs to treat wastewater where native soil can’t do the job alone. His Tier 3 license allows him to install qualifying specialized systems according to approved designs, an important capability for properties with limited space, difficult soils, or high seasonal groundwater.

Approved septic plans are based on site evaluations, but soil conditions can vary across a property. Alex stops the affected work if excavation reveals conditions that differ from the approved plans and helps determine whether additional evaluation or design changes are necessary. He explains the findings to the homeowner, including any required approvals and potential changes to the project timeline.

Alex believes unexpected soil conditions should be addressed before installation continues, even when additional evaluation or revisions to the approved design are required. His priority is to complete an installation that meets regulatory requirements and the company's quality standards.

Addressing unexpected soil conditions may add time or work to an installation, but Alex considers it preferable to leaving problems that could affect the system's long-term performance.

A septic installation reshapes part of a yard for decades, so Alex plans each layout around how the family will use the property long after the system is buried. He looks at where vehicles will drive and park, since a drain field under a driveway or a turnaround area gets compacted and loses its ability to absorb. He also looks at how rainwater moves across the lot, because runoff pooling over a drain field adds water the system was never sized to handle.

“If there’s a spot I can move the drain field to help the customer out, I’ll definitely try to do that,” Alex says.

Excavation on a residential lot often happens a few feet from a foundation, and many rural Upstate properties draw drinking water from a private well. Alex plans every dig with the required setbacks from wells in mind and keeps heavy equipment off areas that could crack a slab or damage landscaping.

Ponds and drainage features need the same care, since a drain field placed too close can push effluent toward surface water. Alex also keeps future maintenance in mind, positioning the tank so a pump truck can reach it years from now without driving across the drain field.

Planning a new home without sewer access or dealing with signs of drain field failure? Talk to Alex Rusev about your project. He can explain the installation process, discuss potential site challenges, and help you understand whether your property may require a specialized septic system.