Aerobic septic questions from Bryan, TX homeowners

Straight answers on septic permits and caring for an aerobic system. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm permit specifics with your permitting authority.

Permits Aerobic system care

Permits

Permits matter most when a system goes in or gets repaired. See New Septic Installs and Septic Repairs for how they fit into each job.

Who issues septic permits in Bryan, TX?

In Texas, septic systems (on-site sewage facilities, or OSSFs) are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under 30 TAC Chapter 285. The permits and inspections themselves come from the local authorized agent, which is usually the county but can be a city, a river authority or a health district.

Where there's no authorized agent, the TCEQ regional office is the permitting authority. TCEQ's county lookup shows who it is for any address, so start there for your property. A county's septic order can be stricter than the state rules, and when it is, the county order prevails.

Do I need a permit to replace my septic tank?

Yes. Texas requires a permit to build, alter, repair or extend a septic system, and replacing the tank counts as a repair. That permit covers the whole system, and it comes from your local permitting authority.

Some emergency repairs can be made before a permit: tank lids, inlet and outlet devices, risers and caps, disinfection devices, drip tubing and solid lines. They have to be reported to the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours of starting the work.

What happens to the septic permit when I sell my home?

In Texas, the permit transfers to the new owner automatically when a home is sold.

TCEQ does not require or regulate a pre-sale inspection, though some counties have their own transfer steps, so check with your permitting authority before closing.

Aerobic system care

An aerobic system has more moving parts than an old-style tank, so it pays to keep an eye on it. Septic Maintenance Contracts explains what a visit covers.

My aerobic system is new. Is maintenance included?

For the first two years. A new aerobic system in Texas comes with an initial two-year service policy, starting when the system is first used. For a new home, that's the builder's sale date.

After that, the owner of a single-family home either maintains the system personally or signs a new maintenance contract. Commercial, speculative-residential and multifamily owners may not maintain their own, and a county may require a contract or training.

How often does a maintenance company inspect an aerobic system?

Under a maintenance contract in Texas, at least once every four months. Spray systems are tested for chlorine residual or fecal coliform at each visit, and the maintenance company reports to you and to the permitting authority within 14 days.

Homeowners who maintain their own system are exempt from that testing and reporting.

Can I use pool chlorine tablets in my aerobic system?

No. Tablet chlorinators need calcium hypochlorite tablets labeled for wastewater. TCEQ's wording leaves no room for doubt: "DO NOT use swimming pool chlorine tablets in your disinfection system."

Use only the disinfectant your system is made for. If you're not sure what goes in your chlorinator, ask before you buy.

Who can pump my septic tank?

In Texas, septic tanks must be pumped by a TCEQ-registered septage transporter. Ask whoever you hire to pump your tank whether they're registered.

Can I park on or build over my septic system?

No. TCEQ says not to build over or drive over any part of the septic system. That includes the tanks and the spray or drip area, so keep sheds, slabs and vehicles off them.

Got a question that isn't here?

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