Septic Services in Western MA

Plain English explanations of every septic service — what it is, when you need it, and what it costs.

Maintenance

Effluent Filter Cleaning

Cleaning of the effluent filter that prevents solids from reaching the leach field.

$50–$200 Every 1–3 years, or when clogged

I/A System Maintenance

Required ongoing maintenance for innovative/alternative (I/A) septic systems like Presby EnviroSeptic, Bioclere, and others.

$150–$500 At least annually — required by state and often more frequent

Septic Pumping

maintenance

Removal of accumulated solids and liquids from your septic tank.

$300–$600 Every 2–5 years depending on household size

Inspections & Assessments

Percolation Test (Perc Test)

assessment

Soil absorption test required before designing a new septic system or replacement system.

$500–$1,500

Routine Septic Inspection

assessment

General inspection of system components to assess condition outside of Title 5 requirements.

$150–$400

Title 5 Inspection

assessment

State-required inspection of your entire septic system, required when selling or transferring property.

$400–$800 Required at sale; otherwise every 3 years for systems with pumps, every 5 years for others when required by town

Repairs

Baffle Repair or Replacement

repair

Repair or replacement of inlet and outlet baffles inside the septic tank.

$100–$500

Distribution Box Repair

repair

Repair or leveling of the distribution box (D-box) that evenly distributes effluent to leach field trenches.

$200–$800

Leach Field Repair

repair

Repair of a failing or saturated leach field, including aeration, resting, or partial replacement.

$1,000–$15,000

Sewer & Septic Line Jetting

repair

High-pressure water jetting to clear clogs and buildup in septic inlet pipes.

$200–$600

Septic Pipe Repair

repair

Repair of cracked, collapsed, or root-intruded inlet and outlet pipes.

$300–$2,000

Septic Pump Replacement

repair

Replacement of a failed effluent pump in systems that use a pump chamber.

$500–$1,500

Tank Lid & Riser Installation

repair

Installation of risers to bring septic tank lids to grade for easier access during pump-outs.

$200–$800

Replacement & Installation

Cesspool to Septic Conversion

replacement

Replacement of an old cesspool with a modern Title 5 compliant septic system.

$15,000–$35,000

Full Septic System Replacement

replacement

Complete replacement of a failed or end-of-life septic system.

$15,000–$40,000

New Construction

ADU Septic Compliance

new construction

Evaluating and upgrading septic capacity for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or in-law apartment.

$500–$25,000

Bedroom Addition Septic Compliance

new construction

Assessment and upgrades to ensure your septic system can support an additional bedroom.

$500–$15,000

New Septic System Installation

new construction

Full design and installation of a new septic system for a new home or structure.

$12,000–$35,000

Septic System Design

new construction

Engineering design for a new or replacement septic system, required before permitting.

$1,500–$5,000

Emergency

Emergency Septic Service

emergency

After-hours and emergency response for active backups, overflows, or system failures.

$300–$2,000

High Water Table Response

emergency

Assessment and response when a high seasonal water table is affecting system performance.

$200–$3,000

Alternative Systems

Mound System Installation

alternative systems

Installation of a raised mound septic system for sites with high water tables, shallow bedrock, or poor soils.

$20,000–$45,000