Septic service in Mesa
Most Mesa neighborhoods are on city sewer, but plenty of homes aren't. A 2013 Arizona Republic report put the number of septic systems in Mesa's planning area at about 24,000.
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Where Mesa homes are on septic
Septic is most common on older large-lot properties and in county islands: pockets of unincorporated Maricopa County inside the city's borders that the city doesn't govern. The same report put the cost of extending sewer lines to the areas still on septic at about $100 million.
When a Mesa property has to connect to sewer
The Republic's report also described how the rules work in Mesa's planning area. The county issues a permit for a new septic system only after the city confirms the property can't reach a sewer line, and owners generally have to connect once their septic system fails, where a line is available.
County islands are treated differently. State law (A.R.S. 9-500.33) says a city can't require a county-island property to connect to its sewer unless ADEQ decides the connection is needed to deal with a nuisance or a threat to water quality.
For a new or replacement system inside city limits, Maricopa County asks for a sewer determination statement from the sewer provider before it reviews the application, and it recommends one for county islands. If a sewer line reaches the property line and the connection costs are within the state's limits, the home generally has to connect. See installation and replacement for those limits.
Permits and home sales
Mesa is in Maricopa County, so septic permits, records and ownership transfers go through Maricopa County Environmental Services. For a sale, the steps are on the home-sale inspections page.
Septic services in Mesa
- Septic tank pumpingRoutine pump-outs that keep sludge out of your leach field.
- Home-sale inspectionsArizona transfer-of-ownership inspections, scheduled around your closing.
- Installation & replacementNew systems for new builds, and replacements for failed ones.
- Septic repairBackups, slow drains, odors, alarms and broken parts.
- Leach field repairWet spots, odors and slow drains that point to the field.
- Tank locating & risersFind a lost tank and bring the lid up to ground level.
What to check on an older Mesa system
- Concrete baffles in tanks installed decades ago can corrode. Have them checked at the next pump-out.
- Systems that predate the county's online records may not show up in the search. A contractor can locate the tank and add a riser so it's easy to find next time.
- If a sewer line now runs past your property, ask the City of Mesa what a connection would take before you pay for a replacement system.
Nearby
Neighboring areas we cover include Apache Junction and Gold Canyon, Queen Creek, Gilbert and Scottsdale.
Questions people ask
Will Mesa make me connect to sewer?
Usually not while your septic system works. The city's approach, as reported in 2013, is that owners generally connect when a system fails and a sewer line is available. If your property is in a county island, state law bars the city from requiring a connection unless ADEQ finds it necessary. Ask the City of Mesa about your address.
How do I know if my Mesa house is on septic or sewer?
Check your city utility bill for a sewer charge, look for a tank lid or riser in the yard, or search Maricopa County's online septic records for a permit at your address.
Request septic service
Tell us what's going on and a local septic contractor will call you back. Or call (480) 542-8315 now.
Call for pumping, repairs or a home-sale inspection.
Call (480) 542-8315