Septic Installation · Mcdonough, GA
New septic system installation for McDonough-area lots that have no public sewer available.
- Georgia DPH-certified installer & pumper
- Residential & commercial
- Local shop in Oxford, GA
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or call (678) 863-5620The short answer
Septic installation in McDonough, GA
A new septic system near McDonough is only an option where public sewer is not available; then District 4's Henry County Environmental Health office permits it from a detailed lot sketch. Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions lays out the site, files the new-system application, installs tank and field, and calls for the final inspection before cover. Call (678) 863-5620.↗↗
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
At a glance
- County seat
- McDonough
The Mcdonough story
Where new tanks still go in around McDonough
Inside the city, a private system is the fallback. McDonough's code sends the building sewer to one only where no public sewer is available, and the owner then runs and maintains it at no cost to the city. New septic work around McDonough therefore happens mostly on the county side, on lots with HCWA water but no sewer line within reach.↗
That group is large. HCWA's financial report says only about 43% of its water customers are also on its sewer, even though most new subdivisions and commercial projects are now required to use public sewer. Single lots outside those developments are where septic lives on.↗
Inside the city, a private system is the fallback.
Permits · District 4 Public Health, Henry County Environmental Health, 137 Henry Parkway, McDonough (470-661-0044)
What District 4 wants on a new-system application
- 01
A lot sketch showing lot dimensions, the house footprint, setbacks, the road name, wells on and next to the lot, paved areas, underground utilities, easements, flood plain and detached buildings.↗
- 02
The plumbing stub-out and the proposed drain field marked on that sketch, plus bedroom count, garbage disposal yes or no, water source and foundation type.↗
- 03
A system type: the form lists conventional gravel, chamber and EZ-Flow as preferred options.↗
- 04
The owner accepts responsibility for adverse soil such as rock or a water table found during the work.↗
- 05
A final inspection before final cover; the permit expires 12 months after it is issued.↗
Soil & terrain
What the ground under McDonough allows
Federal soil mapping at the center of McDonough shows Cecil-Urban land complex, a mix of Cecil soil and ground reshaped by development. It carries a somewhat limited rating for absorption fields. Out on the fringe, undisturbed Cecil sandy loam and sloping Pacolet dominate.↗
Somewhat limited is workable but not forgiving. Field length, trench depth and where the lines sit on the slope all follow from what the soil evaluation finds.
Local facts
Sizing rules we build to
Each row links to the agency, code or publisher it comes from. Tap a source to check it yourself.
| Topic | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 1,000 gallons serves three or four bedrooms | A Homeowner's Guide to On-Site Sewage Management Systems (GA DPH, hosted by District 4) |
| Garbage disposal | Tank size goes up 50% | A Homeowner's Guide to On-Site Sewage Management Systems (GA DPH, hosted by District 4) |
| Tanks installed after Feb. 20, 2000 | Two compartments and an effluent filter | A Homeowner's Guide to On-Site Sewage Management Systems (GA DPH, hosted by District 4) |
| Soil at McDonough's center | Cecil-Urban land complex, somewhat limited for septic fields | USDA NRCS Soil Data Access - Clayton, Fayette and Henry Counties survey (GA625) |
What it costs
Georgia install costs by system type
Conventional gravity
$6,397–$7,600
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Chamber system
$7,000–$12,000
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Low-pressure pipe
$8,000–$14,000
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
Aerobic treatment unit
$10,000–$20,000
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
System design
$300–$800
Typical market range — Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026), 2026
What moves the price
These are third-party typical market ranges, not our prices. Every job is quoted after we see it — estimates are free.
Free estimate: (678) 863-5620- 01Bedroom count and a garbage disposal, which set tank size
- 02How much trench the soil evaluation calls for
- 03Slope, rock or a water table that forces a pump or alternative system
- 04Clearing and driveway access on a wooded lot
Warning signs
Lot red flags to raise before you buy
Seeing two or more of these? Call before it gets worse.
- 1. Steep ground near the house with little flat area for lines
- 2. A creek, floodplain or easement crossing the likely field area
- 3. A neighbor's well close to the property line
- 4. Rock outcrops or soggy spots after rain
More about Mcdonough
Houses versus commercial buildings
A new house follows the residential form above. A business, church or other commercial building uses District 4's separate commercial application, is sized by flow rather than bedrooms, and usually needs an engineered design.
Pump systems add requirements either way. The state guide calls for dosing tanks with a reserve of 150 gallons per bedroom and an audible high-water alarm.↗
A new house follows the residential form above.
FAQ
New septic system questions around McDonough
Straight answers, with the rule or record behind them. Still unsure? Call and ask the crew that digs.
(678) 863-5620Can I put a new septic tank on a lot inside McDonough?
Only where public sewer is not available. The city code otherwise bars septic tanks and requires a sewer connection. If sewer is available, you will be connecting, not installing a tank.
Source: McDonough, GA Code of Ordinances § 13.08.050 Private sewage disposal (Municode, Supp. 15)
Where do I apply for a new septic permit for a McDonough-area house?
District 4's Henry County Environmental Health office at 137 Henry Parkway, McDonough. Use the residential new application; we prepare the lot sketch and file it for you.
How long is a Henry County septic permit good for?
Twelve months from issue, according to District 4's new-system application. The system must be inspected before final cover.
Source: District 4 Public Health - Residential New Septic Permit Application (rev. 2024-08-12)
What size tank does a four-bedroom house need?
The state guide sets 1,000 gallons as the minimum for three to four bedrooms and adds 50% if the house has a garbage disposal. Tanks installed after February 20, 2000 also need two compartments and an effluent filter.
Source: A Homeowner's Guide to On-Site Sewage Management Systems (GA DPH, hosted by District 4)
How much does a new septic system cost in Georgia?
Septic & Well Pro's 2026 figures for three bedrooms run from $6,397 to $7,600 for conventional gravity up to $10,000 to $20,000 for an aerobic unit or mound. We quote after seeing the lot.
Source: Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026)
What kinds of systems does District 4 prefer?
The new-system form lists conventional gravel, chamber and EZ-Flow as preferred types. Drip or other alternatives come up when the lot is tight or the soil is poor.
Source: District 4 Public Health - Residential New Septic Permit Application (rev. 2024-08-12)
A state-certified installer
Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions is on the Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installer Companies list and the Approved Septic Tank Pumper Companies list, both dated September 18, 2026.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Rules, costs and local facts on this page link to the agency, code or publisher that states them. Cost figures are third-party market ranges, not our prices — estimates are free.
Reviewed by Atlanta Water & Sewage Solutions · Last updated
- 1McDonough, GA Code of Ordinances § 13.08.050 Private sewage disposal (Municode, Supp. 15)
- 2District 4 Public Health - Residential New Septic Permit Application (rev. 2024-08-12)
- 3Henry County Water Authority - Annual Comprehensive Financial Report FY2025
- 4USDA NRCS Soil Data Access - Clayton, Fayette and Henry Counties survey (GA625)
- 5A Homeowner's Guide to On-Site Sewage Management Systems (GA DPH, hosted by District 4)
- 6Septic & Well Pro — Septic Installation Cost Georgia 2026 (updated June 9, 2026)
- 7District 4 Public Health - Henry County location
- 8Georgia DPH Certified Septic Tank Installer Companies list (9/18/2026)
- 9Georgia DPH Approved Septic Tank Pumper Companies list (9/18/2026)
Ready when you are
Building where the sewer map ends? WE WILL WALK THE LOT WITH YOU.
Send the parcel address and house plan. We will look at slope and layout, prepare the District 4 paperwork, and give you a free installation estimate.
(678) 863-5620- Georgia DPH-certified installer & pumper
- Residential & commercial
- Oxford, GA
Free estimate
or call (678) 863-5620