Assigned Plumbing Services plumber with the work van

Adelaide Hills

Septic tank installation in the Adelaide Hills

Out past the sewer line, your septic system does a job you never want to think about. We supply and install new septic tanks, aerobic and Envirocycle systems and soakage trenches across the Adelaide Hills, Strathalbyn and the Murraylands, and upgrade old systems that have had their day. We're a local family plumbing business out of Mount Barker, rated 4.9 from 93 Google reviews.

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New builds

New septic systems for new builds and rural blocks

Building on a block with no sewer connection means picking the right system for the site before anything else. Soil type, slope, how close you are to a creek or bore and how many bedrooms the house has all decide what will work and how big it needs to be. We'll look at the block with you, explain the options in plain English and install the system, the tank and the disposal side, so you're dealing with one plumber from the ground up.

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New septic tank going in near Mount Barker

Aerobic systems

Aerobic and Envirocycle systems

Aerobic systems treat wastewater to a higher standard than a conventional tank, so the water can be used to irrigate your garden rather than going into the ground through a trench. They suit smaller blocks, poor-draining soil and sites where a trench just won't fit. We supply and install Envirocycle and other aerobic systems, and set up the irrigation side so it works on your block.

An aerobic system is a treatment tank with an air blower and a pump that sends the treated water out to garden irrigation. We install the unit, the plumbing from the house and the irrigation area, and put it where your council approval says it has to go. Once it's in, an aerobic system needs regular servicing by an approved service agent. That's part of owning one, so we'll explain what's involved before you choose.

Aerobic treatment unit installed at a new home near Murray Bridge

Disposal

Soakage trenches

A septic tank is only half the system. The trench is where treated water soaks back into the ground, and on Hills clay a trench that's too small or in the wrong spot will waterlog, smell and eventually back up into the tank. We dig and lay new trenches sized for the soil and the household, and replace trenches that have failed.

Soakage trench being laid with gravel and geotextile at Mypolonga

Upgrades

Upgrading an old septic system

Plenty of older Hills and Strath properties are still running the tank that went in when the house was built. If yours is cracked, undersized for the family you've got now, or the trench keeps flooding, we can replace it with a new conventional or aerobic system. If you're renovating or adding bedrooms, it's worth checking the system can handle the extra load before the work starts.

Replacement septic tank being lowered in at Mylor

Strath and the Murraylands

Septic systems in Strathalbyn and the Murraylands

Outside the town wastewater schemes, most lifestyle blocks and farms around Strathalbyn, Callington, Palmer, Monarto and Murray Bridge treat their own wastewater, and so do the properties from Tailem Bend down toward Meningie. A lot of our septic work out this way is new builds on rural blocks, plus old farmhouse tanks that were never sized for the family living there now.

The block decides the system. A big paddock with soil that drains can take a conventional tank and trench. A smaller block, heavy ground or a house close to a creek usually points to an aerobic unit that irrigates the garden instead. We'll tell you which suits your site before the council paperwork goes in. If you're out this way, see our Strathalbyn, Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend pages too.

Envirocycle system being installed on a rural block at Tailem Bend

Approvals

Council approval

In South Australia, a new septic system or an upgrade needs approval from your local council before it goes in. Getting the system type and size right from the start makes that process a lot smoother, so we'll talk it through with you before any digging starts.

Excavating rock for a septic system at Kanmantoo

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do you do septic pump-outs or aerobic servicing?

No. We supply and install new septic and aerobic systems, trenches and upgrades. For a pump-out you'll want a liquid waste contractor, and aerobic systems are serviced by an approved service agent.

Should I get an aerobic system or a conventional septic tank?

It depends on your block. Conventional tanks with a soakage trench suit larger blocks with soil that drains well. Aerobic systems like Envirocycle suit smaller or steeper blocks, heavy clay, or anywhere you'd rather reuse the water on the garden. We'll tell you what fits your site.

How do I know if my septic system needs upgrading?

Common signs are slow drains through the house, smells around the tank or trench, soggy ground or lush green patches over the trench, and water backing up after heavy use. An older tank that's struggling with a bigger household is also worth looking at.

Do you install septic systems for new builds?

Yes. New builds on unsewered blocks are a big part of our septic work. We install the tank or aerobic unit, the plumbing to it and the trench or irrigation, so it's all one job.

Do you install septic systems around Strathalbyn and Murray Bridge?

Yes. Strathalbyn, Callington, Palmer, Monarto, Murray Bridge and the rural blocks toward Tailem Bend are all regular country for us. We're based in Mount Barker, so most of it is a short run.

What size septic system do I need?

It comes down to how many bedrooms the house has and what the site can take, and your council approval confirms it. We size it for the house you're building or renovating, not just the one there today.

What we do