AS
Arrowhead Septic Services
Colorado Springs, CO
Arrowhead Septic Services provides professional septic services in Colorado Springs, CO and surrounding areas.
Septic PumpingSeptic RepairSeptic Inspection
Septic Services in Colorado Springs, CO
El Paso County County · Pop. 478,961
Colorado Springs is the second-largest city in Colorado, situated at the foot of Pikes Peak in El Paso County. While the urban core is connected to municipal sewer, a very large population of rural residents in Black Forest, Peyton, Falcon, and southern El Paso County depend entirely on septic systems. El Paso County has one of Colorado's highest concentrations of OWTS permits due to its sprawling rural development patterns. The area's geology is highly variable—from sandy loam plains with good drainage east of the city to shallow rocky soils over Pikes Peak granite to the west. The 2012 and 2013 wildfires that burned through Black Forest and the Waldo Canyon area destroyed numerous septic systems, and many replacement systems were designed under updated El Paso County regulations. Property owners in the area must ensure systems are designed to the 36-inch frost depth minimum.
Septic Providers in Colorado Springs (3)
TS
TCS Septic
Colorado Springs, CO
TCS Septic provides professional septic services in Colorado Springs, CO and surrounding areas.
Septic PumpingSeptic RepairSeptic Inspection
QF
Quick Fix Septic
Denver, CO
Quick Fix Septic provides professional septic services in Denver, CO and surrounding areas. Contact them for septic pumping, repair, and inspection services.
Septic PumpingSeptic RepairSeptic Inspection
Services in Colorado Springs
Drain Field Repair
$2,000 – $15,000
Grease Trap Pumping
$200 – $800
Septic Inspection
$300 – $600
Septic System Installation
$3,500 – $20,000
Septic Tank Pumping
$275 – $600
Septic Repair
$500 – $5,000
Well Drilling
$6,000 – $25,000
Well Pump Repair
$300 – $3,000
Well Water Testing
$50 – $500
Well Water Treatment
$500 – $8,000
Septic Service Costs in Colorado Springs
| Service | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Septic Tank Pumping | $250 - $425 |
| Septic System Installation | $7,500 - $20,000 |
Soil Conditions
El Paso County soils around Colorado Springs include the Hyattville-Olney complex—a fine sandy loam to loam texture with moderate permeability—and Pring sandy loam on slopes. Foothill areas west of the city feature shallow Wetmore-Stoneham rocky soils over Pikes Peak granite. Urban disturbed fill soils are widespread throughout the developed urban core.
Primary USDA soil series in El Paso County include Hyattville-Olney fine sandy loam (moderate permeability, suitable for conventional systems), Pring sandy loam (moderate to rapid permeability, used in gravity systems), and Wetmore very rocky sandy loam (very limited permeability, typically requires engineered design). Black Forest areas have Glenberg-Pring complexes with moderate to good drainage but shallow depth to bedrock in many locations.
Water Table: Groundwater depth ranges from 15 to 40 feet in most upland areas. Fountain Creek and Monument Creek floodplains show seasonal groundwater at 4 to 8 feet during spring snowmelt.
Local Regulations
El Paso County Public Health administers OWTS permits under CDPHE Regulation 43. All new systems require a site evaluation by a licensed PE or sanitarian. El Paso County has adopted local design standards consistent with CDPHE Regulation 43. Black Forest and western El Paso County frequently require engineered alternative systems due to shallow rocky soils. El Paso County conducts final inspections before system backfill.
El Paso County Public Health administers OWTS permits for unincorporated areas under CDPHE Regulation 43. Colorado Springs' urban core is municipally sewered, but rural lots in Black Forest, Falcon, and Fountain areas require septic permits. Site evaluation by a licensed PE or registered sanitarian is mandatory. El Paso County requires an O&M agreement for all alternative systems and recommends inspection every 3 years.
Frequently Asked Questions — Colorado Springs
Do I need a septic system in Colorado Springs if I live near the city?
Properties within the Colorado Springs city limits are generally connected to the municipal sewer system managed by Colorado Springs Utilities. Rural properties in unincorporated El Paso County—including Black Forest, Fountain, Falcon, and Peyton—typically rely on onsite septic systems regulated by El Paso County Public Health.
How did the Black Forest Fire affect septic systems in the area?
The 2013 Black Forest Fire destroyed over 500 homes, many served by septic systems. Post-fire replacement systems were required to meet current El Paso County design standards, which in some cases differed from the original installation requirements. Homeowners rebuilding after the fire were advised to conduct fresh site evaluations because fire can alter soil structure and permeability, potentially changing system design requirements.
What soil types are common in El Paso County for septic installation?
El Paso County soils range from the moderate-drainage Hyattville-Olney sandy loam complex on the plains to shallow, rocky Wetmore soils over Pikes Peak granite in foothill areas. The sandy loam soils generally support conventional gravity systems, while foothill sites with less than 18 inches of soil over bedrock typically require engineered mound or drip irrigation systems.
How often should Colorado Springs area septic tanks be pumped?
El Paso County Public Health recommends pumping every 3 to 5 years for a standard residential septic tank. Households with garbage disposals or larger-than-average occupancy should pump more frequently, closer to every 2 to 3 years, to prevent solids from migrating into the drainfield.
What is required for a septic system permit in El Paso County?
An OWTS permit from El Paso County Public Health requires a completed site evaluation report by a licensed engineer or registered sanitarian, a system design that complies with CDPHE Regulation 43, and a completed permit application with fee payment. Work must not begin until the permit is issued, and a final inspection is required before the system is covered.
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