Installing a new septic system is one of the bigger investments you’ll make in a rural or semi-rural property, and like most big investments, what happens before the work starts matters just as much as the work itself. At Manco Septic Solutions, we’ve spent over 50 years helping homeowners and contractors choose the right tanks and components, and we can tell you with confidence: preparing your property properly is what separates a smooth project from a costly, stressful one.
Before any shovels break ground, or any tanks get ordered, you need the right approvals in place. In BC and most jurisdictions, a septic system installation requires:
The site assessment determines the system type and tank size you’ll need, which directly informs what you order. Getting your permits sorted before you start shopping for tanks saves you from ordering the wrong configuration entirely.
Does your current septic tank need to be replaced?
Once you know what your site assessment and permit require, nail down your tank selection well before installation week. The right concrete septic tank for your property depends on several factors:
Our team genuinely enjoys helping customers work through these decisions. Give us a call at 604-534-2614 and we’ll help you put together the right configuration before installation day, so there are no last-minute surprises when the crew arrives.
Learn how to calculate the right septic tank size for your home.
Concrete septic tanks are built to last decades, and that durability comes with weight. Getting a tank safely onto your property and into position requires serious equipment: excavators, delivery trucks, and potentially dump trucks for spoil removal. A little advance preparation here goes a long way.
Mark and locate utilities first. Contact BC One Call (or your local equivalent) before any digging so underground utilities can be identified and flagged. Then clear the access route by removing fencing sections, low-hanging branches, and any obstacles along the path from the road to the installation site. If your site is wet or the soil is soft, talk to your installer about timing before committing to a date. Saturated ground under heavy loads can turn into a real problem quickly. Finally, identify a staging area well away from gardens, irrigation lines, and structures you want to protect. Equipment, excavated soil, and materials all need somewhere to go.
We supply and manufacture tanks and components. The actual installation is carried out by certified septic contractors, which means your preparation also includes making sure your installer and your supplier are working from the same plan.
A few things worth confirming before work begins: verify that your installer has experience handling concrete tanks, since concrete requires specific equipment that not every contractor keeps on hand. Align on delivery timing so your tank arrives when your installer is ready for it. Get a written scope of work that spells out who is supplying what, covering the tank, aggregate, distribution components, and piping. And sort out weather contingencies in advance. Excavation in wet conditions can do significantly more damage to your yard than the same work done on a dry day.
The evening before installation is a good time to do one final walkthrough. Run through these points:
It’s a short list, but catching a problem the night before is a lot easier than catching it when the truck is already at your gate.
A well-prepared property makes for a faster installation, less landscape disruption, and fewer headaches all around. Secure your permits first, choose the right tank and components before installation day, clear the path for heavy equipment, and keep your installer and supplier in sync. When you’re ready to sort out the tank and components side of things, our team is happy to walk you through your options and make sure you’re set up right from the start. Call us at 604-534-2614 and we’ll give you a straight answer.
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