Sewer lines never reached a lot of San Diego County. Once you get away from the city cores, many homes in places like Ramona, Valley Center, Fallbrook, Alpine, Julian and the back roads around Escondido and Lakeside treat their own wastewater with a septic system. Some older neighborhoods closer to the coast still have them too.
Valley Drilling Co is a family-owned, C-42 licensed septic contractor, in business since 1950, with our own trucks, rigs and operators. Call (909) 795-6164. A real person answers seven days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM, and after-hours emergency calls are answered too.
Where We Work in San Diego County
Don't see your town? Call and ask.
Pumping, Repairs and Escrow Inspections
Most calls start with a tank that's due, a system that's acting up, or a house that's being sold.
- Pumping. Routine and emergency pump-outs. We locate and uncover buried lids, check sludge and scum levels, and give you an honest answer on when to pump next. More on our septic tank pumping page.
- Repairs. Broken baffles and lids, cracked or crushed lines, root intrusion and drain fields that have stopped draining. We diagnose with a camera and probe before anyone talks about digging. See leach line repair.
- Escrow inspections. Buyers and lenders often want the septic checked before close. We locate and open the tank, check levels and components, and handle the certification paperwork. Details on our escrow inspection page.
New Systems, Replacements and ADU Septic
When a system is past saving, or you're building on land with no sewer, the job becomes a new system. That usually means soil testing first, then a layout sized to the house and the lot, then county review, then installation.
Backcountry lots are often steep or rocky, and some don't have room for a long leach field. On those, a deeper seepage pit may be the better fit where the county allows one. We drill pits with our own rigs.
Adding a granny flat or ADU? It can mean a bigger tank, more drain field, or a separate system. Read our ADU septic guide before your plans are final.
How Do Septic Permits Work in San Diego County?
In the unincorporated county, septic permits go through the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ). DEHQ reviews permits for new systems, replacements and repairs. Routine pumping doesn't need a permit from the homeowner.
For a new or replacement system, expect the county to ask for soil or percolation testing and a site plan before it issues a permit. When the county requires an engineer's stamp, the plans are stamped by a licensed engineer. We pull the permits and handle the county paperwork on the jobs that need them.
Common Questions from San Diego County Homeowners
Do you serve all of San Diego County?
We serve homes across San Diego County, including the towns listed on this page. Septic is most common in the inland and backcountry communities, but older homes closer to the coast have it too. If you're not sure we cover your address, call (909) 795-6164 and ask.
How often should a San Diego County home pump its septic tank?
Often every 2–3 years for a busy household, and 3–5 years for a smaller one. Tank size, the number of people in the house, a garbage disposal and heavy laundry all change the timing. After each pump-out we'll tell you what we found and when it makes sense to call again.
Do I need a septic inspection to sell a house in San Diego County?
Often, yes. Buyers and lenders commonly ask for one before close of escrow. The inspection covers locating and opening the tank, checking levels and components, and often pumping. Book it early so a surprise doesn't hold up the sale.
Who approves septic permits in San Diego County?
The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) reviews septic permits for new systems, replacements and repairs. We pull the permits on jobs that need them, and when the county requires an engineer's stamp, the plans are stamped by a licensed engineer.
Nearby Areas We Also Serve
We also work in Riverside County, Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County.
Need septic service in San Diego County?
Call (909) 795-6164. We answer 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM, and after-hours emergency calls are answered too.
Get a Free Estimate →Family-owned since 1950 · C-42 licensed · Bonded & insured
More answers on our Septic FAQ, or read about our company.