Septic guide
Aerobic Septic System Maintenance in Texas
Why an aerobic unit needs a maintenance contract, what a service visit covers, and how often Texas requires it.
Why aerobic systems need ongoing service
Unlike a passive conventional system, an aerobic treatment unit (ATU) runs on mechanical parts — an air pump that feeds oxygen to the treatment process, a chlorinator or tablet feed that disinfects the treated water, and a pump with sprinkler heads that disperses it across a spray field. Those parts wear, and treatment quality depends on them working, so an ATU is not a set-and-forget system.
What Texas requires
State rules require every aerobic unit to stay under a maintenance contract, with an inspection reported to the permitting authority about every four months — three visits a year. Around Conroe that authority is usually Montgomery County Environmental Health Services, or the San Jacinto River Authority for systems near Lake Conroe. Letting the contract lapse puts the system out of compliance with the terms it was permitted under.
What a maintenance visit covers
A routine visit typically services the air pump and aerator, confirms the chlorine or tablet supply is adequate, inspects the spray field and sprinkler heads, and tests the control panel and high-water alarm. The provider then files the inspection report with the county so the system stays in good standing.
Chlorine and the disinfection step
Aerobic systems disinfect treated water before it sprays onto the yard, usually with chlorine tablets made for wastewater — not pool tablets, which are a different chemistry and can damage the system. Keeping the feeder stocked between visits is part of ownership; running out means undisinfected water reaching the surface.
Cost and local context
A maintenance contract commonly runs a few hundred dollars a year, depending on whether it bundles repairs or just the required inspections — see our aerobic maintenance cost page for typical ranges. Aerobic systems are especially common on the clay-heavy lots around Conroe, where slow-draining soil makes a conventional drain field impractical, so most local septic owners deal with this on an ongoing basis.