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Septic Services in Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake County County · Pop. 199,723

Salt Lake City sits at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in a valley carved by ancient Lake Bonneville, whose lacustrine sediments create challenging conditions for septic systems throughout the valley floor. The city itself is served by Salt Lake City Public Utilities Commission sewers, but surrounding unincorporated Salt Lake County, including communities in the Cottonwood and Emigration Canyon corridors, rely on septic systems. The combination of clay-rich lake sediments, high seasonal water tables influenced by mountain snowmelt, and proximity to the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake watershed makes system design in this region technically demanding.

Septic Providers in Salt Lake City (3)

Services in Salt Lake City

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 Salt Lake City

Service Average Cost
Septic Tank Pumping $275 - $450
Septic System Installation $7,000 - $18,000

Soil Conditions

Lake Bonneville lakebed deposits — Saltair silty clay loam and Jordan silty clay loam dominate the valley floor; well-sorted lacustrine silts and clays with very slow percolation; Taylorsville loam and Hansel gravelly loam on alluvial fans along the Wasatch Front with moderate percolation

Jordan silty clay loam (Typic Endoaquoll) on the valley floor has percolation rates exceeding 120 minutes per inch and a seasonal high water table within 24 inches — conventional systems are not approvable here. Taylorsville loam on alluvial fans at the mountain front perc at 30 to 60 minutes per inch with improved drainage. Hansel gravelly loam on older benchlands has excellent percolation at 5 to 15 minutes per inch and is the most suitable soil in the area.

Water Table: 3 to 8 feet in valley floor; 15 to 30 feet on alluvial bench areas

Local Regulations

Salt Lake County Health Department enforces Utah DEQ Rules R317-4 and local ordinances. The Jordan River and its tributaries have enhanced setback requirements. Systems in canyon communities (Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, Millcreek, Emigration) face additional requirements due to proximity to Salt Lake City's watershed protection zones. Some canyon areas are served by engineered small community systems.

Salt Lake County Health Department Environmental Health Division issues all septic permits. Site evaluation, soil profile, and percolation test required. Most SLC proper is sewered (SLCPUC). Unincorporated county areas require permits. Standard permit fee $550 to $900.

Frequently Asked Questions — Salt Lake City

Can I install a septic system in the Salt Lake Valley?
In most of Salt Lake City proper, municipal sewer service is available and septic systems are not permitted. In unincorporated Salt Lake County and canyon communities, septic is permitted but site conditions vary dramatically. Valley floor properties with Lake Bonneville clay soils typically cannot support conventional systems. Bench and mountain communities with gravelly alluvial soils are much more suitable. A site evaluation is required before any permit is issued.
What makes Salt Lake City's soils challenging for septic systems?
Salt Lake Valley sits on ancient Lake Bonneville lakebed deposits — extremely fine-grained lacustrine silts and clays with very slow percolation rates (often exceeding 120 minutes per inch). Combined with a high seasonal water table driven by Wasatch Mountain snowmelt, these soils make conventional septic installation impractical or impossible in many valley-floor areas. Engineered mound systems, drip irrigation systems, or connection to community sewer are the typical solutions.
Are septic systems allowed in Salt Lake City's protected watersheds?
Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon are part of Salt Lake City's protected municipal watershed and have the most restrictive standards. New septic systems in these canyons require Salt Lake City's approval in addition to county permitting, and many areas require connection to a community sewer system or engineered vault-and-haul systems. Contact the Salt Lake County Health Department for current watershed regulations before purchasing canyon property.
How does the Great Salt Lake affect septic systems in the area?
The Great Salt Lake influences groundwater levels and soil chemistry in the western Salt Lake Valley. Properties near the lake's historic shoreline may encounter saline soils and high water tables that complicate both system design and the biological treatment process. These conditions are less common in suburban areas but relevant for properties in unincorporated western Salt Lake County.
What are typical septic pumping costs in Salt Lake City?
Septic tank pumping in the Salt Lake City area runs $275 to $450 for a standard residential tank. Prices are competitive due to several active pumping companies serving the Wasatch Front. Canyon properties may incur higher access fees of $50 to $150. Pumping frequency depends on household size — most 3-bedroom homes need pumping every 3 to 5 years.

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