New systems
New septic systems around Hot Springs, AR
Building where there's no sewer, or the old system finally gave out? In Arkansas it starts with a soil test and a county permit.
Permits
How a new system gets permitted
- Soil test. A Designated Representative digs a soil pit on your lot and checks it.
- Design. The system gets sized for the lot and the house from that soil data.
- Permit. The county health unit issues the construction permit (in Garland County, the Garland County Health Unit). Nothing goes in the ground before that.
- Install. A licensed installer puts it in.
- Inspection. It gets inspected before it's covered up.
Ground
Rock, clay and steep lots
A lot of Garland County sits on the Ouachita Mountains. The soil is often thin over rock, or heavy clay that doesn't drain well, and plenty of lots are steep. All of that limits where a drain field can go, which is why the soil pit matters.
Want a look at your own soil first? Use our free lot check: type the address and see the USDA soil rating, the lot size and the flood zone. For the tank, see the tank size calculator.
State rules also set minimum distances from lakes, streams, wells, the house and the property line. On a narrow lake lot, that doesn't leave much room.
Sewer nearby?
If city sewer is close
If a public sewer line is within 300 feet of where your sewer leaves the house, Arkansas rules generally require you to tie in instead of putting in septic. Hot Springs Utilities can tell you what's near your lot at 501-321-6654.
Options
Standard field or aerobic
Some lots just won't take a standard drain field. An aerobic unit is often the fix. More on aerobic systems
Free lot check
Check your soil before you build
Type the address. See the USDA soil rating for a drain field, the lot size and the flood zone. Then see the minimum tank size for your bedrooms.
Need septic help around Hot Springs?
Send a short request. A licensed local septic company calls you back. We don't do the work ourselves.