Living off the grid in a rural area can have its advantages but it also means that you need to take care of various aspects to keep your household healthy, especially when it comes to sewage and drainage systems.
Luckily, there are plenty of septic systems that you can install to dispose of wastewater safely, and one of the most popular options is the drip septic system. So how much does a drip septic system cost?
Drip septic systems costs may vary depending on the size of the project, but they should typically set you back an average of $5,000 to $18,000 in total installation costs. The system can be costly but it allows you to reuse the purified effluent water to irrigate large fields.
In today’s article, we’ll provide you with a brief guide with all the necessary information you need to know about the drip septic system as well as its pros and cons. Let’s dive right in!
How Does a Drip Septic System Work?
The drip septic system works in a similar way to conventional septic systems but with one main difference: the wastewater is carried and dripped on the soil at regular amounts for irrigation, hence the name.
For a drip septic system to work, it needs a few main and side components. These ones are:
- The septic tank
- The pumping tank (lift tank), which contains both a filter and a pump
- The supply (dispersal) unit with perforated tubing.
- Filtering modules, which are mostly aerobic/sand-based systems.
- Additional pretreatment and monitoring systems, are optional and add to the price of the system, but highly increase its efficiency.
First, the system works by passing the wastewater from the house into a septic tank, which is similar to most septic systems out there.
Inside the tank, the solid particles will settle down and sediment, allowing the effluent liquid to pass on to the next step. The tank will then dose and pass the effluent water to the pumping tank in order to be pumped into the filtering system to be purified.
The pump then continues to push the filtered water further into a closed network of perforated tubes that releases or drips the wastewater at specific intervals through drip emitters, which are adjusted by a control panel or monitoring system.
How Much Does a Drip Septic System Cost?
As you can see, a drip septic system has several integral components to work. For that reason, the costs of installing such a system in your household can vary significantly.
If you’re installing a simple drip septic system that covers a small household without using advanced dosing and control systems, the septic system may cost you as little as $5,000 to $10,000.
However, the more advanced your system is, the higher its total costs will be. An advanced drip septic system with a high-end filtering module, powerful pump, and large drip emitters network will typically cost you as high as $15,000 to $18,000 or even more!
The costs may also vary depending on the materials used in building the septic tanks as well as the type of filtering and monitoring systems used. For example, a cement septic tank is relatively cheap but it’s not as efficient as a plastic one
However, spending more on quality plastic septic tanks means fewer chances for things to go wrong, a longer-lasting system, and lower maintenance costs, which makes them a great investment
How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Drip Septic System?
In addition to the initial costs of building a drip septic system, you should also keep the maintenance costs of running the system in mind.
Ideally, maintenance costs of such a system are anywhere between $300 to $600 or more per year, depending on the size of the system and the durability of its components.
Most of the maintenance costs are based on the electricity needed to run the system, the periodical checks, as well as the pump outs that are made in a constant interval to prevent the solid particles from being dosed into the drip emitters.
What Are the Advantages of Drip Septic Systems?
There are plenty of advantages that make the drip septic system a good choice to consider. In the following section, we’ll take a closer look at those advantages:
Excellent for Many Locations
Drip septic systems work well with a variety of landscapes. For example, it’s a great solution to facilitate grass irrigation with pre-treated water without needing many pressure-compensating emitters.
It can also operate very well whether you have a high or low water table, as you don’t have to dig deep to install the system.
Long Lasting System
Drip septic systems are usually built to last for a very long time with periodic maintenance. In fact, if you choose the right materials, a well-built drip septic system may last for up to 20 years or longer!
What Are the Drawbacks of Drip Septic Systems?
Now that you know more about the benefits of a drip septic system, here’s a brief overview of its downsides:
Relatively Pricey
While it’s not the most expensive septic system out there, drip septic systems are still relatively expensive when compared to conventional septic systems that you can opt for.
Complex Installation
On average, drip septic systems require more components to be installed in order to work, as you need to install several distribution lines, pumps, controllers, pumps, etc.
Final Thoughts
This wraps it up for today’s guide that walks you through everything you need to know about the drip septic system cost of installation.
Although the drip system isn’t as expensive as advanced systems like the mound septic system, it’s still a pricey option when you compare it to a conventional system.
A typical drip septic system may cost you as little as $8,000 and up to $18,000 or more for larger projects with an annual maintenance cost of around $500.
With that said, they’re considered a great investment if you have a large household with a huge lawn that needs continuous irrigation.