Septic Tank Pumping in
Highland & East Highlands

Valley Drilling Co pumps septic tanks in Highland and East Highlands seven days a week. Call (909) 795-6164 to get on the schedule. 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 has worked the east end of the San Bernardino Valley since 1950. Highland is a short drive from our home base in the Cherry Valley and Redlands area.

Which Highland Homes Are on Septic?

Much of Highland is on sewer through East Valley Water District, including most of the newer tracts. Septic is still common on older parcels and larger lots, especially north of Base Line toward the foothills, out along Greenspot Road, near the Santa Ana River wash and on the old citrus land in East Highlands.

Not sure which you have? Look at your water bill. If there's no sewer charge, you're probably on septic. A buried lid or a capped cleanout pipe in the yard is another clue.

Rocky Ground and Seepage Pits

Highland sits on the alluvial fan below the San Bernardino Mountains. The ground is full of river rock and boulders washed down from City Creek and the Santa Ana River. Because of that, many older homes here drain to seepage pits instead of shallow leach lines. A pit can run deep, down through layers of sand and cobble.

Pits work well in this soil, but they don't handle solids. When a tank goes too long without pumping, sludge washes into the pit and seals off its walls. Then the pit stops taking water. Regular pumping is the simplest way to protect it. Our seepage pit page explains how they fail and what the fix looks like.

What to Expect on a Highland Pump-Out

• We find the tank. On older Highland lots, lids are often buried under dirt, rock or landscaping.
• We pump it out and check the sludge and scum layers.
• We watch for signs the pit or lines are struggling, like water running back into the tank.
• We tell you plainly what we saw and when to pump next.

Hillside lots near the foothills can mean a long hose run from the street. Tell us about steep driveways, tight gates or dogs in the yard when you call.

Permits and the County

Highland is an incorporated city, so septic permits for repairs and new systems go through the city or San Bernardino County, depending on the property. Routine pumping doesn't need a permit from you. If we find a problem that needs repair, we explain what's required before any work starts.

Selling a Highland home on septic? See escrow inspections and certification. If the yard stays wet after a pump-out, read about leach line repair.

Areas We Cover Near Highland

We also pump in nearby Mentone and Redlands, and across San Bernardino County.

For the basics, see septic tank pumping, how often to pump a septic tank and 8 signs your tank needs pumping.

Highland Septic Pumping Questions

How often should a Highland home pump its septic tank?

Most homes here need pumping every 3 to 5 years. Larger households, homes with a garbage disposal and older, smaller tanks need it sooner. We give you an interval after we see how full your tank was.

My home drains to a seepage pit. Does that change anything?

It makes regular pumping more important. Solids that escape the tank seal the walls of the pit, and a sealed pit stops taking water. Pumping on schedule keeps the solids in the tank.

Is East Highlands on sewer or septic?

It depends on the street. Many newer homes are on sewer, while older parcels and larger lots nearby are often on septic. Check your water bill for a sewer charge, or call us and we'll help you find out.

Can you pump on a weekend in Highland?

Yes. We pump seven days a week. We answer from 8 AM to 8 PM every day, and after-hours emergency calls are answered too.