Septic failed in Bend? What to do in the first 24 hours
A backed-up septic tank in Deschutes River Woods, Tumalo or south county is a weekly call for us. Here is the order of operations and how fast a unit can be on the driveway.
What should I do first when my septic backs up?
Stop putting water into the system: no flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every gallon goes into a tank that is already full and pushes sewage back up the lowest drain. Then call a DEQ-licensed septic pumper to empty the tank today, and call a porta potty company before noon so the household has a toilet tonight.
Deschutes County reports that failing septic systems are the most commonly reported source of groundwater contamination in the county, and south county has more than 5,600 developed lots on conventional septic and private wells in porous pumice soil. Systems installed in the 1970s on half-acre lots are the usual failures.
Who do I call, in what order?
After a septic backup in Deschutes County, make four calls in this order: a DEQ-licensed septic pumper to empty the tank today, Tony Rental Works before noon for a same-day porta potty, the county onsite wastewater program about the repair permit, and a licensed septic installer for the work.
- A licensed pumperOregon DEQ licenses sewage disposal services under OAR 340-071-0600. A pumper empties the tank, which buys days, not a fix.
- A porta potty for the familyCall (541) 208-0264 before noon and a standard unit is on the driveway the same day inside Bend; Deschutes River Woods and Tumalo are on the same route. Add a hand wash station if the well pump is also affected.
- Deschutes County Onsite WastewaterRepairs and replacements are permitted through the county onsite program. The county evaluates the site, issues the permit and inspects the installation. Plan on weeks, not days, in summer.
- A septic installerThe installer pulls the permit and schedules the work. Ask for a timeline so you know how many 28-day cycles the porta potty will run.
How long will I need the porta potty?
Most septic replacements in Deschutes County run three to eight weeks from the first call to a working system, so households keep the unit for one or two 28-day cycles. The first cycle includes delivery and pickup and weekly service; renewals cost less. Call for pickup the day the new system is approved and billing stops that day.
Weekly service keeps a family-of-four unit clean through the whole wait. A deluxe unit with a sink is the usual upgrade when the house has no water at all.
Where should it go?
Put the unit on the driveway or a level gravel pad within 15 feet of where the truck can park, close to a door the family uses, and away from the drainfield so the service truck never drives over the failing system. Nobody has to be home for delivery if the spot is marked.
Questions people ask us before they book
Can you pump my septic tank too?
No. We pump portable toilets only. A DEQ-licensed septic pumper handles the tank; the county onsite office keeps a list.
Is there an emergency fee for a septic call?
Not before noon inside Bend. After noon, only if dispatch can actually fit you in the same day, and the flat rush fee is shown before you pay.
My mom lives alone on a well and septic outside Bend. Can you deliver to her?
County roads in Deschutes River Woods, Tumalo, Alfalfa, Terrebonne and the Sunriver area are on daily routes. Give us her address, gate details and a phone number for the driver.
Do we have to keep it a full month?
The 28-day cycle is a flat rate, so a two-week repair and a four-week repair cost the same. Call for pickup when the system is approved; a cycle already started is not refunded.
What if the repair takes all summer?
The cycle renews automatically at the lower renewal rate until you call. Nothing is picked up without your call.
Ready to book? Call and we check your address while you are on the line.
Same-day delivery in Bend when you call before noon. Itemized quotes in minutes.