120 John Dodd Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Septic to Sewer Conversion: When Does It Make Sense?
Hey, I'm John (Ivan) Rusev, and I run Rock Solid Septic & Excavation out of Spartanburg. Most of my calls are about keeping septic tanks working. A smaller number are from homeowners asking to convert their septic systems and hook up to sewer mains running near them. As Upstate South Carolina grows, the question seems more relevant these days. Here’s what a septic to sewer conversion is all about and when it's better than fixing your current setup.
What is Septic to Sewer Conversion?
It's a process where a property switches from its existing septic system to public sewer infrastructure (a.k.a. "sanitary sewer"). So wastewater from your home now flows into a new sewer lateral that connects to a municipal mainline sewer, and from there to the local utility's wastewater treatment plant. After the sewer connection is approved and placed into service, the septic tank is pumped and decommissioned according to the requirements of the sewer utility, local permitting authority, and SCDES. Depending on those requirements, the tank may be removed or properly abandoned in place.
Benefits of Switching from Septic to Sewer
Switching to municipal sewer eliminates septic tank pumping and drainfield maintenance. The utility maintains the public sewer system, while the homeowner usually remains responsible for the sewer lateral and plumbing on the private property side. Connecting to sewers also tends to support water quality, as some older septic systems on small lots seep nitrogen and phosphorus into groundwater, and municipal sewer systems are better equipped to treat all of this. To some people, it may add a lot more value for reselling. If you have the municipal sewer connection, it takes away the concern of the potential buyer worrying about if your septic system is going to fail on them.
Challenges in the Conversion Process
Conversion isn't free, and it isn't always simple. The property owner may need to pay utility connection and capacity fees, install a sewer lateral from the house to an approved connection point, and modify the existing plumbing where it leaves the building. Interior plumbing changes are only needed when the existing layout cannot connect properly to the new line. Older homes may be more complicated. Some of them may have plumbing not intended to be connected to a gravity sewer system, in which case excavation and grading could be more complicated. The required approvals depend on the address and utility. The sewer connection must be approved and inspected by the responsible utility or local permitting authority, while septic tank decommissioning must follow applicable SCDES and local requirements.
Reasons to Convert from Septic Systems
Septic systems are often replaced with sewer lines for very practical reasons.
Repeatedly failing septic systems: When a septic tank and/or drain field starts failing repeatedly, the repair costs can become unaffordable.
Site limitations: If the site is too small or soil conditions are not suitable to build a new drain field if/when the existing drain field fails.
Public sewer expansions: Public (county/municipality) sewer lines are extended into previously unserved areas, and property owners are required or encouraged to connect to the public sewer system when available.
Sale of property: When the owner decides to sell the property, having an established public sewer connection can be a selling point compared to an aging septic system.
Repeatedly failing septic systems: When a septic tank and/or drain field starts failing repeatedly, the repair costs can become unaffordable.
Site limitations: If the site is too small or soil conditions are not suitable to build a new drain field if/when the existing drain field fails.
Public sewer expansions: Public (county/municipality) sewer lines are extended into previously unserved areas, and property owners are required or encouraged to connect to the public sewer system when available.
Sale of property: When the owner decides to sell the property, having an established public sewer connection can be a selling point compared to an aging septic system.
The Conversion Process
The sewer conversion starts with determining if there is a public sewer line nearby. If access is available, then the next step is to have a licensed plumber and excavation contractor work together to install a sewer lateral (a pipe from your house to the main sewer line). Once that is done and approved, the septic tank should be pumped one last time before being decommissioned. Depending on the approved abandonment method, the tank may be pumped and removed or abandoned in place using an approved procedure. It should never be left untreated or filled without authorization because an improperly abandoned tank can collapse. The process is finished with a final inspection to make sure the new connection is in good working order and the old system is properly closed out.
Check Sewer Availability and Current Connection Terms
Sewer availability, connection fees, deadlines, and financial assistance vary by utility and project area. A sewer main running nearby does not automatically mean that the property has an available tap or permission to connect. Confirm the current terms directly with the utility responsible for the property before estimating the cost.
When Repairing the Septic System Still Makes Sense
There are times when the conversion just is not the answer, and a recent Inman call we took shows why. The call came from a homeowner whose septic system was backing up and who did not have time to wait. Being a pump tech, I was able to locate the septic tank and pump it the same day. Once it was emptied, the real problem turned out to be the septic system itself. The next day, our repair tech Alex Rusev made the necessary repair. By the next morning, the system was once again fully functioning, with no backups, and the house was draining properly.
This job clearly illustrates that it's not always something bigger that needs to be fixed. A tank overdue for a pump-out or a system with a fixable part doesn't mean you need to rip it out and go full sewer. It means proper repair by someone who digs into the root cause. Converting to sewer before diagnosing a repairable septic problem can mean paying for a much larger project than the property actually needs.
This job clearly illustrates that it's not always something bigger that needs to be fixed. A tank overdue for a pump-out or a system with a fixable part doesn't mean you need to rip it out and go full sewer. It means proper repair by someone who digs into the root cause. Converting to sewer before diagnosing a repairable septic problem can mean paying for a much larger project than the property actually needs.
Repair the Septic or Switch to Sewer?
If your septic tank keeps causing problems and you’re not sure whether it’s worth fixing again or time to look at a sewer connection, call (864) 431-2822 before you commit either way. We’ll check the property, see what’s actually going on with your septic system, and give you a straight answer on whether repair or conversion makes sense for your situation.
FAQ
Total cost depends on distance to the sewer main, connection fees charged by the local sewer utility, and whatever plumbing and excavation work the property needs. Costs commonly range from a few thousand dollars for a straightforward hookup to considerably more when the sewer line has to travel a longer distance or cross difficult ground, and monthly sewer bills replace the periodic cost of septic upkeep once the connection is live.
You can convert only if the sewer utility confirms that service and an approved connection point are available for the property. A nearby sewer main does not by itself guarantee permission or capacity to connect. The responsible sewer utility and local permitting authority must approve the connection before the septic tank is decommissioned. Septic pumping and drainfield expenses end after conversion, but the homeowner usually remains responsible for the private sewer lateral and household plumbing.
It can, particularly for older homes where the existing septic system is aging or undocumented. A verified sewer connection gives buyers one less unknown to worry about, though the effect on property value varies by market and by how the septic system was already performing.
Septic tanks generally cost less month to month since there’s no monthly sewer bill, though they require pumping and maintenance every few years. A sewer connection means paying water and sewer charges every month but skipping the periodic cost of septic system maintenance and eventual drain field repair.
The process includes confirming sewer availability, obtaining the required approvals, installing and inspecting the new lateral, activating the sewer connection, and then pumping and properly decommissioning the septic tank. The exact contractors and inspections required depend on the property and the responsible utility.