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Septic Services in Des Moines, IA

Polk County County · Pop. 214,237

Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city, the hub of the state's political, commercial, and insurance industries, and the center of the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the Midwest. The city sits at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers in the heart of the Des Moines Lobe — Iowa's youngest glaciated landscape, characterized by poorly drained soils, thousands of closed depressions, and a complex subsurface tile drainage network that transformed agricultural productivity but created a septic challenge for on-site systems. Des Moines proper is entirely sewered, but the metropolitan fringe communities and rural Polk County have large concentrations of private septic systems. The Raccoon River — Des Moines's primary drinking water source — has a chronic, nationally publicized nitrate contamination problem driven primarily by agricultural drainage but with contributions from residential and on-site sources. Des Moines Water Works famously sued upstream counties over nitrate contamination in 2015-2016, highlighting the critical importance of nutrient management from all sources in the watershed.

Septic Providers in Des Moines (4)

Services in Des Moines

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 Des Moines

Service Average Cost
Septic Tank Pumping $225 - $375
Septic System Installation $5,000 - $17,000

Soil Conditions

Polk County soils are dominated by deep Mollisols developed on the Des Moines Lobe — the youngest glaciated region of Iowa, covered by ice as recently as 12,000-14,000 years ago. Webster silty clay loam and Nicollet clay loam are the most common soils — both poorly to somewhat poorly drained with seasonal water tables at 0-24 inches, 30-45% clay content, and slow to moderately slow permeability. Clarion loam on upland swells is better drained with moderate permeability. Harps silty clay loam in closed depressions is very poorly drained with water at the surface much of the year. Des Moines River floodplain soils (Nodaway silt loam, Haynie fine sandy loam) are deep and moderately well-drained but subject to annual flooding.

Webster silty clay loam (USDA series 131IA) is the most common soil in Polk County and one of the most limiting for on-site systems in Iowa. A very poorly drained Typic Endoaquoll developed on Des Moines Lobe till, Webster has an organic-rich topsoil (4-6% organic matter) over a gray, mottled subsoil with seasonal saturation throughout the upper 24 inches. Iowa DNR's soil classification system rates Webster soils as Class IV (most limiting) for subsurface disposal. On Webster soils, conventional drainfield installation is typically infeasible, and mound systems with imported fill are required. The Clarion loam (USDA series 30IA) on upland swells is rated Class II-III and can support conventional systems with appropriate sizing, but Clarion occupies only a fraction of Polk County's residential land area.

Water Table: Webster and Nicollet soils have seasonal high water tables at 0-18 inches from December through May. Clarion soils have water tables at 18-36 inches. Harps soils have water tables at or above the surface. Polk County's extensive subsurface tile drainage infrastructure has lowered average water tables in agricultural areas by 1-2 feet but the tiles themselves intercept and concentrate lateral flow. The Raccoon River and Des Moines River maintain water tables within 3-5 feet along their corridors.

Local Regulations

Polk County Environmental Health Services administers Iowa DNR's PSDS rules with local amendments. Iowa Code requires all PSDS installers to be certified by the Iowa DNR; uncertified installation is prohibited. Polk County has adopted local amendments requiring larger setbacks in the Raccoon River and Des Moines River watersheds due to the nitrate impairment of the Raccoon River. New systems within the Des Moines Water Works watershed protection area may be subject to additional review. Iowa's real estate disclosure laws require sellers to disclose known deficiencies in private sewage systems. Iowa DNR maintains a database of certified installers and issued permits that is publicly accessible.

Polk County Environmental Health Services issues private sewage disposal system (PSDS) permits under Iowa Administrative Code 567 Chapter 69 and Polk County local health regulations. Des Moines proper and its established suburbs are served by Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (MWRA). However, Polk County's rapid suburban growth at its edges — Ankeny (largely sewered), Altoona, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale (partially), and rural townships — includes significant on-site system populations. Iowa's PSDS installer certification requirement means only state-certified installers can pull permits. Permit fees range from $75 to $250. Polk County is part of the Raccoon River watershed, which has a severe chronic nitrate problem that makes nutrient management from all sources, including septic systems, a state-level concern.

Frequently Asked Questions — Des Moines

Does my Des Moines area septic system contribute to the Raccoon River nitrate problem?
Individual residential septic systems contribute a very small amount of nitrate relative to agricultural drainage, which is the dominant source. However, the cumulative effect of many on-site systems in the Raccoon River watershed is measurable and is part of Iowa DNR's watershed management planning. Properly functioning systems with adequate soil treatment substantially reduce nitrate loading compared to failing systems. Maintaining your system — pumping on schedule, fixing leaks, reducing household water use — is the most effective thing you can do to minimize your system's contribution to watershed nutrient loading.
What is a mound septic system and why do I need one in Polk County?
A mound system builds the drainfield above the native soil on an elevated bed of imported sand and gravel fill, achieving the required vertical separation from the seasonal water table or restrictive soil layer. Iowa DNR requires a minimum 2-foot separation between the drainfield bottom and the seasonal high water table for most system types. On Webster silty clay loam — which dominates most of Polk County — the water table is within 12-18 inches of the surface, leaving no room for a below-grade drainfield. Mound systems solve this by elevating the drainfield 2-4 feet above the native soil. They cost $10,000-$17,000 in the Des Moines area, reflecting material costs for imported fill sand and gravel.
How often should I pump my septic tank in the Des Moines, Iowa area?
Iowa DNR recommends pumping every 3-5 years. In Polk County, a 3-year cycle is advisable for the majority of systems, which are mound or LPP types serving the poorly drained soils of the Des Moines Lobe. Annual inspection of pump and float components is recommended for all pump-dependent systems (mound, LPP). If your household includes more people than the system was designed for, or if you have a garbage disposal (which significantly increases solids loading), pump every 2-3 years.
How much does septic pumping cost in the Des Moines, Iowa area?
Septic pumping in Polk County typically runs $225 to $375 for a standard residential tank. Iowa's moderate cost of living makes pumping costs lower than the national average. The Des Moines metro area has numerous licensed septage haulers, maintaining competitive pricing. Many Polk County pumpers offer a combined pump-out and visual inspection for $275-$400 that allows early detection of mechanical or structural issues.
My Polk County property floods occasionally — what does that mean for my septic system?
Flood events can overwhelm and damage on-site systems. If your system was submerged or received large volumes of floodwater, Iowa DNR guidance recommends pumping the tank, inspecting all components, and avoiding heavy system use until the ground has drained. Floodwater introduces sediment and pathogens into the tank and drainfield, and the saturated soil after a flood reduces drainfield capacity temporarily. For recurring flood risk, speak with your county health department about whether your system can be modified to reduce flood vulnerability, or whether relocation of components to higher ground is feasible.

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