Septic to Sewer Conversion Service
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Septic to sewer conversion eliminates recurring pump-out costs, ends drain field replacement risk, and removes the environmental contamination liability of a failing onsite system by routing all household wastewater to the municipal treatment plant through a new sewer lateral. Bonded Plumbworks’ licensed plumbers manage permit applications, excavation and lateral installation, pressure-testing the connection, and septic tank decommissioning per health department abandonment requirements — confirming sewer main proximity and connection capacity before any work begins.
Septic to sewer conversion is the process of connecting a property’s plumbing system to the municipal sewer main, installing a new sewer lateral from the house to the street, and properly decommissioning the existing septic system. Conversion eliminates the homeowner’s responsibility for onsite wastewater treatment and transfers treatment to the municipal wastewater facility. — Bonded Plumbworks
The area has been expanding municipal sewer availability to areas previously served only by septic systems. When sewer becomes available on your street, many municipalities offer connection programs with assessment options that spread the cost over time.
What Is Septic to Sewer Conversion
Septic to sewer conversion involves three major components: installing a new sewer lateral (the underground pipe connecting your home’s plumbing to the municipal sewer main), redirecting the home’s drain system from the septic tank to the new sewer connection, and properly decommissioning the existing septic system per state health department requirements.
Septic system decommissioning requires pumping the tank, disconnecting all plumbing connections, and either removing the tank or collapsing it in place and filling with clean sand or gravel per state health department and local health department requirements. Improperly abandoned tanks create ground collapse hazards and environmental contamination risks. — Bonded Plumbworks
The conversion connects your home to a treatment infrastructure that handles all wastewater processing, eliminating the need for septic pumping, drain field maintenance, and system replacement.
When to Schedule Septic to Sewer Conversion
Septic-to-sewer conversion is appropriate when municipal service becomes available, the drain field has failed, or a home expansion would exceed current septic capacity.
Consider conversion when:
- Municipal sewer service becomes available on your street
- Your municipality mandates connection when sewer is available within a specified distance
- Your septic system has failed and replacement costs are comparable to conversion costs
- The drain field has reached end of life and replacement area on your lot is limited
- You want to eliminate ongoing septic maintenance and pumping costs
- You are planning a home expansion that would exceed your septic system’s capacity
- Environmental regulations restrict continued septic use in your area
- You want to increase property value by connecting to municipal sewer
A mandatory connection ordinance compels homeowners to connect to the municipal sewer within a specified period — typically one to three years — after service becomes available on the property’s street, with fines or liens for non-compliance. Properties in areas covered by a nutrient-sensitive watershed mandatory conversion program face accelerated timelines because regulatory agencies prioritize eliminating septic discharge to protect groundwater quality. A property survey establishes utility easements and confirms the sewer lateral route before septic to sewer conversion construction begins, preventing encroachment disputes and ensuring the new line follows the most direct permitted path.
How Septic to Sewer Conversion Works
Step 1: Permit Applications
We apply for the required permits from the local municipality (sewer connection permit) and the county health department (septic decommissioning permit). We coordinate with the utility department regarding the connection point and any required connection fees or impact charges.
Step 2: Sewer Lateral Installation
The municipal sewer tap is the physical connection point where the new lateral joins the public sewer main, and tapping procedures vary by utility — some require the municipality to perform the tap while others allow licensed contractor access. We excavate a trench from your home’s existing drain system exit point to the sewer tap at the property line or sewer main. SDR 35 PVC sewer pipe carries wastewater from the house to the main through the new lateral, with schedule 40 solid core sections used under structures where greater crush resistance is needed. The lateral is installed at the proper slope (typically 1/4 inch per foot minimum). Where minimal surface disruption is required, micro trenching reduces excavation width to as little as 6 inches using a specialized cutting wheel, lowering landscape restoration costs significantly compared to conventional open-cut trenching. An inspection and test tee is installed at the connection point to provide cleanout access for future maintenance and to satisfy the municipal inspector’s requirement to verify flow direction and joint integrity.
Septic to Sewer Conversion inspection gives you a live view of the problem before any work starts. You review the findings and approve the quote before any repair begins.
Step 3: Drain System Redirect
We disconnect the home’s drain system from the septic tank inlet and redirect it to the new sewer lateral. This may involve rerouting pipe under the slab or through the yard depending on the relative positions of the house, septic tank, and sewer connection point.
Step 4: Septic System Decommissioning
Septic system abandonment begins with pumping the tank empty, disconnecting all piping, and either removing the tank or collapsing it in place and filling with clean sand or gravel per state health department requirements. An improperly abandoned tank can collapse years later and create a dangerous sinkhole, making permitted decommissioning essential. Drain field abandonment is completed in place as the field materials will naturally decompose, though the drain field area should be documented to avoid future construction over decomposing aggregate. We obtain the required decommissioning inspection from the health department and provide a digital as-built map (a municipal requirement for many jurisdictions) documenting the exact GPS coordinates of the abandoned system for your property records and future title searches. A backwater valve installed on the new sewer lateral during the septic to sewer conversion prevents municipal sewer backflow into the home during heavy rain events — an inexpensive addition during construction that becomes far costlier to retrofit later. Backwater valve installation protects against sewage surcharge events where the municipal main exceeds capacity, and the valve’s automatic flapper closes within seconds to keep backflow from reaching basement or ground-floor fixtures.
Step 5: Final Inspection and Activation
Municipal inspectors verify the sewer lateral installation before backfill. Health department inspectors verify proper septic decommissioning. After passing both inspections, we backfill, restore the surface, and the home is connected to the municipal sewer system.
Benefits of Sewer Conversion vs Continuing Septic
Municipal sewer eliminates the ongoing costs and responsibilities of septic system ownership: pumping every three to five years, drain field replacement every 20 to 30 years, inspection and repair costs, and the risk of catastrophic system failure. Sewer-connected properties also face no usage restrictions — garbage disposals, high-efficiency washing machines, and increased bathroom counts do not stress the system as they do with septic.
Property values are typically higher for sewer-connected homes compared to septic-served properties. Sewer connection removes a common concern for home buyers and eliminates the septic inspection requirement during property sales.
Pricing for Septic to Sewer Conversion
Conversion pricing includes the sewer lateral installation, drain system redirect, septic decommissioning, permits, and surface restoration. The primary cost variable is the distance from the house to the sewer connection point — longer laterals require more excavation and pipe. Municipal connection fees and impact charges are additional costs set by the utility.
Some the area municipalities offer connection assessment programs that spread the municipal fees over 10 to 20 years. Bonded Plumbworks provides a detailed estimate covering our scope of work and advises on municipal fee programs. Call (855) 557-9600 for a conversion assessment.
Our Qualifications
Bonded Plumbworks’ licensed plumbers hold state-certified plumbing contractor licenses and have completed residential septic to sewer conversions since 2006. Our team coordinates with municipal utility departments, the state health department, and local building departments to manage the multi-agency permitting process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does septic to sewer conversion cost?
Total conversion cost includes the plumbing contractor’s work (sewer lateral, redirect, decommissioning) plus municipal connection fees. The plumbing work varies with distance and complexity. Municipal fees vary by jurisdiction. We provide a complete cost breakdown covering both components during the assessment.
Am I required to connect to sewer when it becomes available?
Many the area municipalities mandate sewer connection within one to three years after service becomes available on your street. Requirements vary by jurisdiction. Check with your municipality’s utility department for the specific mandate timeline. Penalties for non-connection may include daily fines after the deadline.
What happens to my old septic tank?
The septic tank is either removed from the ground or collapsed in place and filled with clean sand or gravel per state health department decommissioning requirements. The drain field is abandoned in place. Proper decommissioning is inspected by the health department and documented for your property records.
How long does the conversion process take?
The physical construction work takes three to five days. However, the permitting process requires two to six weeks depending on municipal and health department processing times. We begin permit applications immediately and schedule construction as soon as approvals are received.
Back to Septic System Services
Schedule Your Septic to Sewer Conversion
Connect to municipal sewer and leave septic maintenance behind. Bonded Plumbworks’ licensed plumbers handle every step of the conversion. Call (855) 557-9600 to schedule your conversion assessment today. Every septic to sewer conversion service includes a 90-day guarantee on septic to sewer conversion work, covering parts and labor.