What are community septic systems?

When reading a listing ad, you may not know what  the term "community septic systems" means.

Like reverse osmosis systems, septic systems are not commonplace for all home buyers. If, for instance, you've lived in a large city your whole life, you likely haven't encountered a septic system, as waste from the toilets and showers is transported from properties via the city sewers in major municipalities. However, suburban areas typically have these systems in place to perform the task of sewage treatment.

These systems can work for a single home or a group of homes in the community. In the latter case, you have a community septic system, which requires that you make financial contributions for the system's maintenance. Theses costs are usually part of your utility bills, and a professional company is typically responsible for managing the system.

When you have a community system, there may be pipes and pumps running through your neighborhood to carry waste water to the drainfield and the clean water from the community well.

Comparable to having an individual septic system, ones that serve the community eliminate the maintenance costs you'd have to maintain your own system. However, those savings can be offset by the dues you pay for the community system's maintenance. If you have concerns about the water quality of this system, you can order water quality and lead inspections to find out about any contaminants.