The Full Replacement Process
A full drain field replacement is a significant project that involves excavating your existing soil treatment area, removing contaminated soil, and installing a new drain field engineered for your property's specific conditions. In Hernando and Pasco counties, this process is governed by F.A.C. Chapter 62-6 and requires permits from the county Department of Health.
Steps in a Full Drain Field Replacement
- Site Assessment & Soil Evaluation: We examine your property's soil profile, determine the seasonal high water table (SHWT), and identify the percolation rate. This determines the drain field size and type needed.
- System Design: Based on soil conditions and household bedrooms (flow volume), we design the new drain field. This may include standard gravity trenches, chamber systems, or an engineered mounded system for high water table areas.
- DOH Permitting: We submit the complete permit package to the Hernando or Pasco County DOH Environmental Health office, including site plans, soil logs, and system specifications.
- Excavation & Removal: We excavate the old drain field, remove contaminated soil, and transport it to an approved disposal site. The area is graded and prepared for the new system.
- New System Installation: We install the new drain field components—distribution boxes, laterals, infiltration chambers, and geotextile fabric—sized for your soil and flow requirements.
- Final Inspection: The county DOH inspector verifies the installation meets all code requirements. We coordinate scheduling and ensure everything passes on the first inspection.
Soil Types We Work With in Hernando & Pasco Counties
The Nature Coast has diverse soil profiles that directly affect drain field design:
- Candler sands (Dade City, Zephyrhills): Fast-draining soils that require precise hydraulic sizing to prevent effluent from passing through too quickly without adequate treatment.
- Spodosols (Hudson, Hernando Beach): Water-logged coastal soils with a high seasonal water table, often requiring mounded systems.
- Flatwood soils (Spring Hill, Brooksville): Poorly drained soils with a hard pan layer that restricts percolation, often requiring elevated drain fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical full drain field replacement takes 1 to 3 days depending on site conditions, soil type, and system size. Permitting and DOH scheduling may add 3 to 5 business days before work begins.
Costs vary based on system size, soil conditions, and whether an ENR system is required. Contact us at (352) 269-9010 for a free site assessment and detailed estimate.
In most cases, no. We can often connect a temporary line so your household can continue using water. Full shutdown is typically only a few hours during the swap-over.
Yes. We handle the entire permitting process with the Hernando or Pasco County Department of Health, including soil testing, site layout, and final inspection scheduling.
Ready for a Permanent Solution?
If your drain field has failed beyond repair, a full replacement is the only lasting solution. Call (352) 269-9010 to schedule your free site assessment today.