Septic System Repair in Harwich, MA

Failed a Title 5 inspection, or seeing signs your system is failing? Here is what can be repaired, what has to be replaced, and how the Cape's nitrogen rules affect upgrades.

Request a free callback

Harwich Septic Help is a free referral service. We are not a septic company and do not pump, inspect, or repair systems. When you send a request, we work on matching you with an independent local septic provider, who must hold the required town permit and may pay us a referral fee. Prices, licensing, scheduling and work are between you and that provider.

Can a septic system be repaired, or must it be replaced?

Under Title 5, some problems can be fixed component by component and get a conditional pass, then a full pass once the Board of Health approves the repair:

A metal or cracked septic tank
A broken or obstructed pipe
An uneven distribution box
A malfunctioning pump chamber

Soil absorption systems (leach fields) and cesspools cannot be repaired under a conditional pass. A failed system must be upgraded within 2 years unless the Board of Health or MassDEP sets another schedule.

Common component repairs

Repairs local providers commonly list include broken or root-damaged pipes, distribution boxes (D-boxes), baffles and outlet tees, effluent filters, tank covers, and adding risers for easier access. Many use a sewer camera to find the problem before digging. Some of these jobs, and any replacement, may need a Board of Health permit, and your septic as-built plan from the town helps the provider plan the work.

In a future sewer area? Check the Harwich sewer connection guide and the town's phase map before paying for a full replacement; ask the Health Department what a failed system on your street must meet.

Sources: MassDEP; Harwich Water Department. The component list reflects what Harwich-area providers advertise, not a regulation.

Will a repair in Harwich require a nitrogen-reducing I/A system?

If your property is in a Natural Resource Nitrogen Sensitive Area, a replacement may need nitrogen-reducing technology, such as an Innovative/Alternative (I/A) system, unless your town's Watershed Permit filing changes that. I/A systems have pumps and other mechanical parts. EPA says systems like these should generally be inspected once a year, and a service contract is important.

For financing, Barnstable County's Cape Cod AquiFund says septic repairs, replacements and I/A installs currently qualify for its 4% and 5% betterment loans (its 0% and 2% rates are for new sewer connections only). Massachusetts also has a Title 5 septic tax credit for principal residences, and MassHousing's Septic Repair Loan Program offers loans up to $25,000 for income-eligible owner-occupants. See how Cape homeowners pay for the fix.

Sources: Barnstable County; Cape Cod AquiFund; Mass.gov tax credits; US EPA.

Signs your septic system is failing

Water and sewage from toilets, drains or sinks backing up into the house
Bathtubs, showers and sinks draining very slowly
Gurgling sounds in the plumbing
Standing water or damp spots near or over the septic tank or drainfield (leach field)
Sewage odors around the tank or drainfield
Bright green, spongy, lush grass over the tank or drainfield, even in dry weather

Source: US EPA, Resolving Septic System Malfunctions.

Hiring for repairs

Get written estimates. Mass.gov's consumer tips recommend a written contract that spells out the work plan, cost, payment terms and any guarantees.
Ask whether the job needs a Board of Health permit or an engineer's design.
Confirm the provider's credentials with your town.

Request a free callback

How Harwich Septic Help works

Tell us what is going on. Use the short form: your town, the problem, and how urgent it is. It takes about a minute.
We work on matching your request with one independent provider who serves your town and must hold that town's permit. In Harwich, septage haulers need a Board of Health permit and Title 5 inspectors must be on the town's approved list, so ask the provider to confirm they are on the current list.
The provider contacts you directly, quotes the job and does the work. Price, scheduling and the work are between you and the provider. The referral is free to you; the provider may pay us a fee.

We are not a septic company, inspector or installer, we do not have an office you can visit, and we do not publish reviews or prices we cannot verify.

Request a call back from a local septic provider

Tell us your town and what is going on. We work on matching your request with an independent septic provider serving your area, who must hold the required town permit and contacts you directly. There is no charge to you for the referral.

Sewage backing up or septic alarm sounding? We have not yet confirmed a provider, so call a licensed septic hauler now from the Town of Harwich licensed septic hauler list. You can still send a request marked Emergency — today.

Frequently asked questions

Which septic parts can be repaired instead of replacing the whole system?

Under Title 5, components eligible for a conditional pass include a metal or cracked septic tank, a broken or obstructed pipe, an uneven distribution box and a malfunctioning pump chamber. Soil absorption systems and cesspools cannot be repaired under a conditional pass.

How long do I have to fix a failed septic system?

MassDEP says a failed system must be upgraded within 2 years unless the local Board of Health or MassDEP authorizes another schedule.

Is there financing for septic upgrades on Cape Cod?

Yes. Barnstable County's Cape Cod AquiFund offers betterment loans; per the county, septic repairs, replacements and I/A installs qualify only for its 4% and 5% rates (5% if the home is listed or expected to be listed for sale within 12 months), with terms up to 20 years. Massachusetts also offers a Title 5 tax credit for owner-occupied principal residences. Rates and rules can change, so check with Barnstable County and the Department of Revenue.

Sources

Facts on this page come from these official and public sources. Rules change; confirm with your local Board of Health.