Mound, aerobic and alternative septic systems in Dawsonville, GA

Some lots in Dawson County cannot take a standard trench field. Shallow rock, a high water table, or a steep slope can all change the design. This is still septic installation, just with the soil telling us which version.

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When does a Dawsonville lot need an alternative septic system?

A lot needs one when the soil cannot support a conventional trench or chamber field. In Georgia that means less than 2 feet between the bottom of the field and seasonal high groundwater or bedrock, a slope over 25 percent, or ground that is otherwise unsuitable. Aerobic pretreatment of a certain quality, called Class I, lowers the separation requirement from 2 feet to 1 foot.

Those limits come from the state health department's on-site sewage manual, and the department keeps a list of approved alternative systems. Which one fits your lot depends on the soil report. See Georgia DPH Environmental Health.

Which designs should you ask about?

General guidance only. The soil report decides.

How steep is the area where the field would go?
How deep is the soil to rock or standing water?
How much clear space is there?

How do you know your lot may need more than a conventional system?

Rock shows up shallow in test holes

Foothill ground can hit rock quickly. When it does, there may be too little soil to filter wastewater.

The soil is wet in the cooler months

A seasonal high water table can sit close to the surface in winter and spring, even if the lot looks dry in summer.

The lot is steep

Slopes limit where a field can go and how it has to be laid out. Over 25 percent, the state manual calls it unsuitable unless a special investigation shows otherwise.

You have little room

Small lots, lake lots, and lots with several wells nearby may not fit a full trench field. See Lake Lanier lot septic.

What types of alternative septic systems are there?

A pump or dosing chamber sends the liquid out in measured doses so it spreads evenly across the field, or lifts it uphill to better soil. It is the usual answer when the best ground is higher than the house.

Not every design is approved in every situation. Environmental Health decides what can be permitted on your lot.

What changes for alternative systems in Dawson County?

Dawson County covers 208 square miles of foothills, river valleys, and Lake Lanier shoreline, so the ground changes from lot to lot. Permits come from Dawson County Environmental Health at 189 Highway 53 West, Suite 102, phone (706) 265-2930. A 1972 USDA soil survey of Dawson, Lumpkin, and White counties is held at the Dawson County Library, but the state manual says soil survey maps are not enough. An on-site soil analysis comes before a permit is approved or denied.

If grading or cuts will change the ground where the field goes, the manual calls for the soil evaluation to be done after the work is finished. That is one more reason to leave the ground alone until the soil has been evaluated. See soil tests and permits.

Rules, limits, and approved system lists change. Confirm with Environmental Health before you design around any number on this page.

How an alternative septic installation works, step by step

  1. Soil report first

    A certified soil classifier evaluates the lot and records slope, depth, and water. This tells us whether a conventional field is possible.

  2. Pick a design that fits

    We go over the options the soil supports, what each needs, and what each adds to the budget.

  3. Environmental Health permit

    The design goes to Dawson County Environmental Health for review and approval. Permits are generally valid for 12 months.

  4. Install and inspect

    We install the system and call for the county inspection before anything is covered.

Alternative septic system questions

Is an alternative system the same as an experimental one?
No. Georgia's rules define an alternative system as one that differs in design or operation from a conventional tank and drain field, and the state health department keeps a list of approved ones. An approved alternative system is a permitted option, not a trial.
Will Environmental Health tell me which system my lot needs?
They review the design and decide whether it can be permitted. The soil classifier's report is what points toward a design in the first place, so the order is soil report first, then a design that fits it, then the permit.
Does an alternative system cost more?
Usually, because of the extra parts: a pump or dosing chamber, a controller, extra stone or sand, or an aeration unit. We do not quote a figure without the soil report. Our free estimate lists each line so you can see what the extras are.
Can I put in a conventional system and upgrade later?
Not on a lot where the soil only supports an alternative design. The permit is issued for the design the soil supports, and Environmental Health will not approve a conventional field where the separation or slope limits are not met.
What happens if my lot has a steep slope?
Georgia's manual treats slopes over 25 percent as unsuitable unless a soil classifier's special investigation shows the limitation can be overcome with design or site changes. Many foothill lots sit well under that, so slope alone is not a verdict.
Do alternative systems need more upkeep?
Anything with a pump, a control panel, or an air supply has parts that can wear. Ask for the maintenance expectations in writing before you choose a design, and ask Environmental Health whether the permit carries any service requirements.
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