Why this question comes first
Septic and sewer systems fail in different ways and need different help. A sewer home is connected to the Town's collection system, and a blockage is usually in the lateral or the main. A septic home sends waste to a tank and drain field on the property, and a backup may come from the tank, the field or the pipe between them.
According to Town of Apple Valley planning documents, about 30 percent of development is on the sewer and about 70 percent is on septic. The Town also prohibits cesspools. Because the split is so uneven, the first question on many calls is not what is clogged but what the house is connected to.
Our sewer line cleaning page explains what we do on a sewer lateral, and this guide helps you work out which applies to you.
How to find out which system you have
- Look at your utility bills. A sewer charge on a bill suggests a sewer connection.
- Walk the yard. A septic tank has access lids, often round or square concrete or plastic, and a drain field area.
- Check the property records. The Town of Apple Valley Building and Safety Division issues septic permits and can tell you.
- Look for a cleanout. Both systems can have one, so it does not settle the question.
- Ask a neighbor or previous owner. Sewer lines often serve whole streets.
- Check the permit file for any septic installation on the property.
What to do if you do not know
What changes for drain problems
On a sewer home, a main line clog is cleared with a cable or a jetter through the cleanout, and a camera shows the cause. If the blockage is in the street main, the Town is the contact. On a septic home, the same clearing works on the pipe to the tank, but a backup that persists may mean a full tank or a failing field.
Septic homes also need more care with what goes down the drain. Fats, wipes, harsh chemicals and heavy disposal use can harm a tank. A tank needs pumping on a schedule, and a drain field needs protection from vehicles and roots. Our drain cleaning page explains what we clear, and we tell you when a septic professional is the right call.
The Apple Valley septic and sewer split
The Town owns and operates the collection system, and wastewater from it is treated by the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority in Victorville. The Town requires a sewer connection if the nearest property line is within 200 feet of the sewer, so a parcel near a main may be required to connect. Groundwater depth varies widely, from about 15 feet near the Mojave River to about 250 feet near the eastern boundary, which affects septic design.
Septic permits are issued by the Town's Building and Safety Division, which is the right contact for questions about your system. Permit rules for a repair or a new connection vary by job, so ask the Town before you start. Hesperia and Victorville have their own sewer and septic situations, so check with your city.
Source: Town of Apple Valley planning documents.
Sewer home and septic home compared
| Question | Sewer | Septic |
|---|---|---|
| Who maintains the main | The Town | You, for your own system |
| Backup source | Lateral or main | Pipe, tank or drain field |
| Regular upkeep | Little | Tank pumping on a schedule |
| Chemicals and wipes | Less sensitive | Best avoided |
| Who to call | Plumber, then the Town | Plumber, then a septic pro |
Where our work stops and a septic pro starts
We clear and inspect the lines that carry waste, and we tell you what we see. Pumping a tank, repairing a baffle, inspecting a drain field and replacing a failed field belong to septic contractors. If a camera shows the pipe is clear and water still backs up, the tank or field is the likely cause, and we will say so.
We do not diagnose a tank by guessing. A clear line with a backup is a signal to call a septic professional, and a quick conversation saves a wasted visit. Homes in Victorville and Hesperia may also be on septic, so the same advice applies.
Planning ahead
Keep a record of your septic pumping, and know where the tank lids and the field are. Keep vehicles off the field and plant shrubs away from the lines. Use water evenly through the week, since many loads in one day can stress a tank.
If you buy a home, ask for the septic records and a tank inspection. A camera look at the line from the house to the tank is also useful. Our sewer inspection page explains what a camera shows.
Septic and sewer questions from Apple Valley homeowners
Check your bills, look for tank lids and ask the Town of Apple Valley Building and Safety Division.
The Town requires a connection if the nearest property line is within 200 feet of the sewer. Ask the Town about your parcel.
No. A septic backup may come from the tank or field, which need a septic professional.
Many people do, but it fills a tank faster. Use it lightly.
A septic contractor. We clear the pipes and tell you when a tank needs attention.
Still have a question about your situation? Call (760) 986-1999 any hour and ask.