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Septic service · Edgewood & East Mountains

Chamber Drain Fields

Plastic chambers are a common alternative to gravel trenches — lighter to haul, quick to install and permitted for many sites.

Call (505) 886-7941
  • Site visits
  • Written pricing
  • State-permitted systems
Diagram: septic system side view — sewer line, two-compartment tank, distribution box and drain field trenches
How a septic system works.

What chambers are

Chambers are open-bottomed plastic arches laid end to end in a trench. Effluent flows into the open space underneath and soaks into the soil. There's no gravel to haul and place.

Why they're used

  • No gravel to truck in — helpful on remote or tight lots
  • Quick to install
  • Open storage space inside each chamber
  • Durable plastic that won't break down in the soil
Crew checking the grade on a green polyethylene septic tank set on a gravel bed, with an excavator and mountains behind
Setting a poly tank on a level gravel bed.

Does my site qualify?

Whether chambers can be used — and how many — depends on the soil evaluation, the system design and what the permit approves. We'll lay out the options during the design.

Install details

  1. Trenches dug level to the approved depth
  2. Chambers laid and connected end to end
  3. Distribution pipe connected from the D-box
  4. Inspection before cover
  5. Backfilled and graded

Septic questions

Are chambers better than gravel?

Neither is always better. Both work when designed for the site.

Do chambers cost more?

Material can cost more, but labor and hauling are often less. It evens out.

Can chambers replace an old gravel field?

Yes, when the permit allows.

Keep reading

Planning a new or replacement septic system?

Edgewood, Moriarty, Tijeras, Sandia Park and the East Mountains.

Call (505) 886-7941
Call (505) 886-7941