Septic System Installation in Hampstead, NC
- Family owned and operated
- Over 20 years of experience
- Fully licensed and insured
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Septic System Installation for Hampstead Homes and Businesses
Coastal Septic Solutions installs septic systems for residential and commercial properties. In Hampstead, NC, we put in new and replacement systems as a family-owned company with more than 20 years of experience, and we serve all of Pender County.
Call 910.271.2008 to talk with one of our septic professionals, or request a free estimate. If the county has already issued your Construction Authorization, send it with your request and we will send you an estimate for the system it calls for.
What Is Different About Installing a Septic System in Hampstead
Hampstead is an unincorporated community in Pender County. Septic permits for Hampstead properties are issued by Pender County Environmental Health.
Soil is the biggest variable. The USDA soil survey maps two very different kinds of ground around Hampstead. Some is well drained fine sand, such as Autryville and Baymeade. Some is wet soil, such as Leon and Murville, where the water table sits at or near the surface for part of the year. NC State Extension notes that suitable and unsuitable soils can sit side by side on the same lot.
That matters because a septic tank installation is only half of the job. The real treatment happens in the soil under the drain field. State rules require at least 12 inches of suitable soil under a drain field trench in natural ground, and a pressure system when soil wetness is less than 18 inches below the trench bottom and more than six inches of the soil in between is sand or loamy sand. Advanced pretreatment can allow smaller separations.
Coastal rules apply too. Pender County is one of the 20 counties covered by the Coastal Area Management Act. The county's septic application asks for CAMA lines and any designated wetlands, and state rules generally keep a septic system's tanks and drain field at least 50 feet from tidal marshes and coastal waters, though some advanced pretreatment systems can be placed closer.
Septic Permits in Pender County: Who Issues Them and in What Order
The Environmental Health Division of the Pender County Health Department issues septic permits, and its Environmental Health page has the applications. State law sets the order:
- Application. You apply with a site plan or plat that shows property lines, easements, the house, the driveway, wells and water lines.
- Site preparation. Mark the property corners, stake the house and driveway, clear the undergrowth, then tell the county the site is ready.
- Site and soil evaluation. A county Environmental Health Specialist tests the soil to decide whether the property can support a septic system.
- Improvement Permit (IP). It confirms that the site can be used.
- Construction Authorization (CA). It sets the type of system and where it goes. Unless you use one of the private permit options described in the questions below, no building permit is issued and no installation starts without it. The county may issue it with the IP.
- Installation. The county requires a septic contractor with a valid North Carolina certification.
- Final inspection and Operation Permit (OP). The county inspects the system before it is covered, then issues the OP. Only then can the system be used and the home occupied.
Types of Septic Systems and How the Right One Is Chosen
The county sets the system type in your Construction Authorization after the soil evaluation. The EPA lists the main factors: household size, soil type, site slope, lot size and how close the site is to sensitive water.
Coastal Septic Solutions installs all types of systems, including:
- Conventional system. A septic tank and a drain field of trenches. It works best in thick, well drained soil with a deep water table.
- Conventional system with a pump. We add a pump tank, also called a lift station, when the drain field is too far from the septic tank or uphill from it.
- Chamber system. A gravelless drain field of connected open-bottom chambers. The EPA notes that chamber systems are well suited to areas with high groundwater tables.
- Low-pressure pipe (LPP) system. A pump sends wastewater through a network of small pipes so it spreads across the whole drain field.
- Drip distribution system. Tubing in the top 6 to 12 inches of soil delivers timed doses from a dose tank. It needs electrical power and more maintenance.
Request a Free Estimate
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Check out what our customers have to say
Angela Bartlett
Google review
Had an unknown emergency with our septic tank during Hurricane Debby. Tracy quickly confirmed it was an emergency, had the crew out within 1.5 hours. When they got there, they were efficient, informative, professional, & honest. Thank you Tracy, Ej & Josh. I highly recommend.
Candice Thomas
Google review
Coastal Septic Solutions was contracted to fix an issue caused by another company. They were super professional and polite and extremely helpful anytime I needed to call to find out the process and when I would expect or could expect the repairs to take place. The day they arrived everybody was in and out very quickly and took into account that I work from home and managed to keep the noise to a minimum and most of the time I forgot they were even outside my house. Definitely recommend their services.
Cristina horrell
Google review
I contacted Coastal about coming out to take a look at my septic tank lines. I had a issue with roots growing into the lines causing them not to drain properly. When I contacted them they were very understanding and came right out to look at the issues. They corrected the problem and even put out grass seed where they had to dig up the lines!
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Marysusan Rice
Google review
Our septic tank wasn't draining properly and Jonathan came and assessed the situation quickly that we needed a new drain field. He obtained the necessary permit, all the materials needed were delivered the next day, and he and his crew came the next day. They laid a 55ft drain field, cleaned up the yard and were done by mid afternoon. He and his crew work well together and do a beautiful job!!! They are all very personable and we highly recommend Coastal Septic Solutions for any septic problems. Charles and Marysusan Rice.
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deb woody
Google review
This company stepped in and installation was perfect. The yard was left in beautiful shape, ready for finishing touches. They were honest, hard-working and great to work with. Strongly recommend coastal septic solutions.
D
Darin Boswell
Google review
Sam and Josh showed up on time and were very polite and knowledgeable with my overload of questions about how the system functions and ways to better maintain our system. They found our tank, inspected the system, cleaned the system out, and cleaned up the area with ease and speed. I highly recommend these guys for your next service. I was able to learn alot also. Thanks and be safe.
How Installation Goes, From Site Evaluation to Final Inspection
- Evaluation and permits. The county evaluates the lot, then issues the Improvement Permit and the Construction Authorization.
- Free estimate. Send us the Construction Authorization and we send you an estimate for the system it calls for.
- Layout. The trenches are staked on the ground with a level or laser level before any digging.
- Tank and drain field. We install the tank and build the drain field to the Construction Authorization. The trenches follow the contour of the ground.
- County inspection. Nothing is covered until the county has inspected the work.
- Cover and finish. The drain field gets at least six inches of soil cover after settling, then grass to hold the soil in place.
- Operation Permit. The county issues it and the system can go into use.
What Affects How Long an Installation Takes
These are the things that change the schedule:
- The application. Pender County does not process an incomplete one.
- The lot. The county will not evaluate a lot that is not staked, and thick vegetation has to be thinned first.
- The county's field visit. The soil evaluation is a scheduled visit by a county specialist.
- The system type. A system with a pump, controls and a dose tank has more parts to install than a conventional one.
- Changes after the permit. A change to the house plan or the site plan means a revised application.
- Inspections. The county inspects the system before it is covered and issues the Operation Permit before it is used.
New Construction and Replacement Systems for Homes and Businesses
New construction. The septic permit comes before the building permit. For a house, the tank is sized by bedrooms: at least 1,000 gallons for four or fewer, and 1,250 gallons for five.
Replacement systems. State law requires a permit before a failing system is repaired or replaced. Most lots permitted since the early 1980s have a repair area set aside for a second drain field, and the replacement may have to be a different type of system than the original.
Commercial properties. For a business, the county asks for the type of business, the number of employees and the square footage to set the daily design flow.
Coastal Septic Solutions installs septic systems for residential and commercial properties.
Caring for a New Septic System
- Keep your permit, and ask for an as-built diagram that shows the tank, the drain field and the repair area.
- EPA guidance is to have the system inspected at least every three years and the tank pumped every three to five years. We handle that through our septic tank pumping service.
- If your system has a pump or float switches, have it inspected about once a year.
- Keep vehicles, buildings and pools off the drain field and the repair area.
- Send roof drains and gutters away from the drain field.
- Keep grass over the system, and plant trees well away from it.
Why Hire Coastal Septic Solutions
- Family owned and operated, with more than 20 years in the septic business.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- A team that understands Pender County's high water table, sandy coastal soil and area standards.
- Coastal Septic Solutions installs septic systems for residential and commercial properties.
- State-of-the-art equipment that keeps the job efficient and the site clean.
- Honest advice. We do not recommend a repair or replacement unless it is necessary.
- Quick responses and free, no-obligation estimates.
Related Septic Services
- Septic tank risers. A riser brings the tank opening up to the surface so the tank is easy to find and service. NC State Extension recommends one when the tank is buried 6 inches or deeper.
- Line jetting. Pressurized water clears buildup out of pipes and drain lines.
- Emergency services. We are available 24/7 for backups and system failures.
Nearby Towns We Serve
Along with Hampstead, we serve Porters Neck, Wilmington, Rocky Point, Burgaw, Maple Hill and Myrtle Grove. See all of our service areas.
Our new septic installation service covers all of Pender and New Hanover counties, and parts of Brunswick, Onslow, Duplin, Bladen, Columbus and Sampson counties.
Septic Installation Questions From Hampstead Property Owners
Should I get a septic permit before I buy a lot in Hampstead?
NC State Extension advises getting an Improvement Permit before you buy land you plan to build on. A soil survey map helps you screen lots, but it does not replace an evaluation of the lot itself.
Can I hire a private soil scientist or engineer instead of using the county evaluation?
Yes. North Carolina law lets an owner hire a licensed soil scientist certified as an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator, or a professional engineer under an Engineered Option Permit. The owner files a Notice of Intent to Construct with the county health department. Pender County's application lists both options.
Do septic permits expire?
An Improvement Permit is valid for five years when it is issued with a site plan. It does not expire when it is issued with a plat. The Construction Authorization lasts as long as the Improvement Permit it goes with.
What should I keep off the lot before the system goes in?
Do not grade or excavate the area planned for the drain field, and keep construction off it once the permit is issued. Pender County warns that damaged soil can get a permit revoked, and that the area may need to be fenced off during construction.
Can I add a bedroom, a pool or an outbuilding later?
Check with the county health department first. It has to confirm that the septic system and the repair area stay intact and are sized for the change.
Get a Free Estimate for Your Hampstead Septic Installation
Call 910.271.2008 or contact us online for a free estimate. Have your Construction Authorization ready if the county has issued it. If you have not applied yet, call to speak with one of our septic professionals.
