SepticPlain is an independent, plain-English guide to owning a septic system in the United States: what it costs, what size you need, how often to pump, and what to do when something seems wrong. We cover costs and calculators, sizing and how a system works, care and pumping, problems and repairs, and the different system types.
What we do
Septic rules are set by states, tribes and local governments, not by one national code, so a lot of what you read online is only true somewhere. Our pages say which state rule a figure comes from, link to it, and give the date we checked it. Where states differ, we show the difference rather than pick one.
Our cost pages show published estimates side by side, with who published them and what they measure, then build the cost up from parts you can check: materials, labor at government wage data, and an overhead and profit line we show openly. Our calculators show their formula and working. Our how we estimate costs page explains the method, including how state rules are checked and dated.
Our pages are written for readers in the United States and checked against sources such as EPA, state codes and health departments, county health departments, university extension services, USDA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Articles are published under the SepticPlain name.
What we are not
SepticPlain is not a septic company, an inspector, a designer, a lead service, a contractor directory or a government agency. We do no pumping, installs, inspections or repairs, and we have never pumped your tank or seen your yard. We do not claim to have done the work we describe. Our figures come from public sources, and we say where each one comes from.
How we are funded
SepticPlain is funded by display advertising. Ads may not appear yet while the site is new. Once they run, some may come from septic companies, retailers or product makers. An ad is not an endorsement, and advertisers have no say over what we publish.
How we stay independent
- No affiliate links. We earn nothing if you buy a product or a service after reading a page.
- No paid placements. Nobody can pay for coverage, a mention or a better position.
- No sold leads. We have no quote form, and we do not pass your details to anyone.
- No contractor referrals. We do not recommend, list or rank pumpers, installers or inspectors, and none of them pays us.
- Nothing for sale. We sell no tanks, additives, parts or services.
That is why our pages can say things a seller might not: that EPA urges caution with additives, that a tank may not need pumping yet, or that one quote leaves out items another includes.
How pages are checked
Every page gets a fact-check against its sources, separate from the writing, and the sources are linked at the claims they support. Each page ends with the date its sources were checked. Our editorial policy explains each step.
Use our pages as a starting point
A web page can’t see your soil, your lot or your tank. Costs and rules change with your state, your county, the system type and what is found once work starts. A licensed local professional prices and does the real job, and your local health department or permitting office decides what your system needs.
Mistakes and questions
Our corrections page logs what we have fixed, and our contact page says how to reach us. Please read our disclaimer too: everything here is general information, not professional or legal advice.
