Pump Septic System Installation & Pressure Distribution Systems in North Georgia

Pump septic systems are engineered septic systems designed for properties where gravity alone cannot move wastewater to the drain field. These systems use dosing tanks, effluent pumps, alarms, floats, controls, and force mains to move and distribute wastewater to the absorption field.

Pump systems are extremely common throughout North Georgia due to steep terrain, elevation changes, difficult lot layouts, and limited usable drain field areas.

At Bulldog Septic, we install and service pump septic systems throughout Cumming, Buford, Milton, Braselton, Jefferson, Commerce, Gainesville, and surrounding North Georgia communities.

How Pump Septic Systems Work

In a standard gravity septic system, wastewater flows from the septic tank to the drain field by natural elevation. But when the drain field is uphill, too far away, or located in a different usable soil area, gravity may not be enough.

In a pump septic system, wastewater first enters the septic tank where solids settle and liquid effluent separates. The effluent then flows into a dosing tank or pump tank. Once the liquid reaches a certain level, float switches activate the effluent pump.

The pump sends wastewater through a force main to the drain field, distribution box, pressure manifold, or chamber system depending on the design.

Controlled dosing helps evenly distribute wastewater across the drain field and reduces the chance of overloading one section of the system.

Common Components of a Pump Septic System

A pump septic system may include:

• Septic tank
• Dosing tank or pump tank
• Effluent pump
• Pump floats
• High-water alarm
• Control panel
• Force main piping
• Distribution box
• Pressure distribution piping
• Chamber drain field, pipe and gravel field, drip field, or engineered dispersal area

The control panel and alarm are important safety features. If the pump fails or the water level rises too high, the alarm alerts the homeowner before the system backs up or damages the drain field.

Common Reasons a Pump System Is Required

Pump septic systems are commonly required for:

• Uphill drain fields
• Elevation changes between the home and drain field
• Long distances to the drain field
• Limited usable soil areas
• Difficult lot layouts
• Sloped properties
• Engineered septic designs
• Replacement systems where the new field must be placed in a different location
• Properties where controlled dosing is required

Pump systems are often the best solution when the most suitable drain field location is not close enough or low enough for gravity flow.

Benefits of Pump Septic Systems

Pump and pressure distribution systems offer several benefits when properly designed and installed:

• Allows septic installation on difficult lots
• Moves wastewater uphill or across long distances
• Improves drain field distribution
• Helps prevent one area of the field from being overloaded
• Can extend drain field performance
• Allows better use of available soil areas
• Works well with chamber systems, drip systems, and engineered drain fields

Maintenance for Pump Septic Systems

Pump septic systems require more maintenance than simple gravity systems because they include mechanical and electrical components.

Important maintenance includes:

• Routine septic tank pumping
• Pump inspections
• Alarm testing
• Float inspection
• Electrical inspections
• Effluent filter cleaning
• Monitoring for pump or alarm issues
• Keeping access risers clear and accessible

If a septic alarm goes off, it should not be ignored. A pump system alarm may indicate high water, pump failure, float issues, electrical problems, or drain field backup.

Real Project Example

Bulldog Septic recently converted a failed conventional septic system in Jackson County into a pressure-dosed pump system. The project included a new dosing tank, effluent pump, alarm system, 360 feet of force main, a distribution box, and Prinsco Pro 4 chambers in the new drain field location.

This type of system allowed wastewater to be moved to a better drain field area and distributed properly for long-term performance.