Alarm going off? Silence it, stop using water, check the pump breaker, and don't open the tanks. If it comes back, call for service. Never enter a septic or pump tank.
Why so many properties here have alternative systems
A conventional septic system relies on gravity and a leach field in deep, reasonably permeable soil. Much of rural Sonoma County and West Marin doesn't have that: soils are shallow over rock, heavy with clay, or saturated by groundwater in winter, and lots are often steep or close to creeks and wells. Where a conventional field won't work, systems use pumps and engineered designs instead:
- Pump-to-gravity and pressure distribution systems pump effluent uphill or spread it evenly through small pressurized lines.
- Mound and at-grade systems build the dispersal area up in imported sand where native soil is too shallow or too wet.
- Sand filters and other supplemental treatment units treat effluent further before it reaches the soil.
- Drip dispersal doses small amounts of treated effluent through shallow tubing.
The parts that fail
- Effluent pumps. They wear out, and they can jam on solids if the tank ahead of them isn't maintained.
- Floats. The switches that turn the pump on and off and trigger the alarm can stick, tangle, or fail.
- Control panels and timers. Tripped breakers, failed relays, and moisture in panels are common.
- Filters and orifices. Clogged effluent filters and spray or distribution orifices starve the field of even dosing.
- Treatment media. Sand filters and treatment units lose effectiveness without periodic service.
- Mound surfaces. Wet spots, seepage at the toe of a mound, or erosion point to dosing or design problems.
Power outages and PG&E shutoffs
Pumped systems stop when the power does, including during PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which are common in fire season in rural Sonoma County and Marin. Conserve water until power is restored. If you rely on a generator, have your contractor confirm the pump and panel can be powered safely.
Maintenance and permits
Alternative systems need more regular attention than a gravity system: checking pumps and floats, cleaning filters, verifying alarms, and servicing treatment media. In Sonoma County, systems with supplemental treatment require an operational permit from Permit Sonoma, and installing one includes a recorded easement agreement. In Marin, alternative systems are overseen by Environmental Health Services, which publishes a list of qualified service providers for them. Keep service records. Buyers' inspectors will ask for them.
Buying a property with an alternative system? See septic inspections for home purchases.
Alarm, pump, or mound trouble? Call (707) 867-1221 or request an inspection or estimate and we'll connect you with a local septic contractor.
Septic services in Sonoma County & West Marin
- Home Sale & Short-Term Rental Inspections → Pre-purchase inspections during escrow, line camera checks, and the inspection Marin County requires for short-term rental licenses.
- Leach Field Repair & Replacement → Diagnosis and repair of saturated or failing leach fields, distribution boxes, root intrusion, and crushed lines.
- Septic Tank Replacement, Baffles & Risers → Replacing failing concrete, steel, and redwood tanks, repairing baffles and effluent filters, and adding risers to grade.
- Mound, Sand Filter & Pump Systems → Troubleshooting and repair for mound systems, sand filters, pressure-dosed systems, pumps, floats, and high-water alarms.
- ADU & Remodel Septic Reviews → Getting an existing system evaluated and documented when an ADU, bedroom, or remodel triggers a county septic review.
Frequently asked questions
My septic alarm is going off. What should I do?
Silence the alarm with the button on the panel, then cut water use right away: no laundry, dishwasher, or long showers. Check whether the breaker for the pump has tripped. Do not open the tanks. If the alarm comes back or the breaker trips again, call for service. The alarm means the pump tank is filling above its normal level, usually because the pump, a float, or the power to the pump has failed.
How much time do I have after the alarm sounds?
Pump tanks are usually designed with some storage above the alarm level, but how much depends on the system, and normal household water use fills it faster than most people expect. Treat the alarm as urgent and keep water use to a minimum until the system is checked.
What happens to my septic system during a power outage?
Any system with a pump stops moving effluent when the power is out, including during PG&E safety shutoffs. Gravity systems keep working. With a pumped system, conserve water during an outage. If you have a generator, ask your contractor whether and how the pump can be safely powered from it.
Do alternative systems need regular maintenance?
Yes, more than a conventional gravity system. Pumps, floats, filters, control panels, and treatment media all need periodic service. In Sonoma County, systems with supplemental treatment also require an operational permit from Permit Sonoma.
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