Septic Tank Pumping in
Apple Valley & Victorville

Valley Drilling Co pumps septic tanks in Apple Valley, Victorville and Lucerne Valley, 7 days a week. Call (909) 795-6164. We answer from 8 AM to 8 PM every day, and after-hours emergency calls are answered too.

We're a family septic business that's been around since 1950. This page is about pumping. For repairs, escrow work and new systems up here, see our High Desert septic page, which also covers Hesperia and Phelan.

Apple Valley: Big Lots, Lots of Septic

Apple Valley grew up as a ranch town, and a large share of its homes are still on septic, especially on half-acre and larger parcels. Neighborhoods off Bear Valley Road, Navajo Road and Highway 18, and much of the north end of town, have tanks in the yard. Some newer tracts are on sewer.

Victorville: Check the Edges of Town

Most of Victorville's newer neighborhoods are on sewer. Septic is more common on older homes and larger parcels at the edges of town, out toward Oro Grande, the Mojave River and the west side. If your water bill has no sewer charge, you're probably on septic.

Lucerne Valley: Spread Out and on Septic

Lucerne Valley homes, ranches and businesses run on septic. Properties are spread out along Highway 247 and Highway 18, and some sit far down dirt roads. Give us clear directions, and tell us about soft sand or washes the truck has to cross.

Caliche, Sand and Your System

High Desert soil is mostly sand, but some lots have a layer of caliche a few feet down. Caliche is a hard, cement-like crust that water can't get through. Leach lines dug above it can fill up and stay wet. That's one reason many homes up here use deep seepage pits that reach sandier soil below.

Either way, the tank's job is to keep solids out of the soil. Pumping every 3 to 5 years does that for most households. Our guide on how often to pump a septic tank has a chart by tank size and household. If the ground stays wet after a pump-out, read about leach line repair.

Wind, Cold and Buried Lids

Wind drifts sand over lids, and winter nights get cold enough to harden the ground. Neither stops a pump-out, but both make the tank harder to find. If you have risers or a marked lid, great. If not, we'll locate it.

A few things help on the day:

• Open gates and put dogs and livestock away from the truck path.
• Move vehicles, trailers or hay off the area over the tank.
• Tell us if the tank is a long way from where the truck can park.

Who Handles Permits Up Here?

Apple Valley and Victorville are incorporated, so septic permits go through the town, the city or San Bernardino County, depending on the property. Lucerne Valley is unincorporated and goes through the county. The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board sets groundwater rules for the area. Routine pumping doesn't need a permit from you.

Selling a desert home? Pumping is often part of an escrow inspection. Heading east toward the Morongo Basin? See our Yucca Valley page, or the San Bernardino County page for the whole county.

More reading: septic tank pumping and 8 signs your tank needs pumping.

Apple Valley & Victorville Septic Questions

Is Apple Valley on sewer or septic?

Both. Some newer tracts are on sewer, but many Apple Valley homes, especially on larger lots, are on septic. Check your water bill for a sewer charge, or call us and we'll help you find out.

What is caliche, and does it affect my septic system?

Caliche is a hard, cement-like layer found in some High Desert soil. Water can't soak through it, so leach lines above it may drain poorly. Seepage pits that reach past it often work better.

Do you pump septic tanks in Lucerne Valley?

Yes. We pump septic tanks in Lucerne Valley, Apple Valley, Victorville and across the High Desert. Clear directions help on rural parcels.

Can you pump my tank if the lid is buried in sand?

Yes. Wind buries a lot of lids up here. Finding and uncovering the tank is part of the job, and an old permit drawing helps if you have one.