The ground in Wichita
Most houses inside Wichita are on city sewer. The septic tanks and lagoons are on the edges: acreages and older additions north toward Park City and Valley Center, west past the Big Ditch, south toward Haysville and east toward Andover, plus pockets inside the city where sewer never reached the street.
The ground changes fast. Along the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers it’s sandy river bottom that drains quickly and can sit close to the water table. Up on the higher ground away from the rivers you get heavier clay that takes water slowly. That difference is why Sedgwick County uses a percolation test to decide between a septic field and a lagoon.
Permits and rules
Outside the city, onsite systems in Sedgwick County are permitted by the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD). A licensed wastewater installer has to pull the permit; homeowners can’t. A property within 400 feet of public sewer is required to connect, so a failing system near a sewer main may end up as a sewer hookup instead of a new field. Pumping a tank doesn’t need a permit; repairing or replacing one does.
Calls we get from Wichita
- Backed-up tanks, including after hours
- Roots in the line between the house and the tank
- Pump-outs before a house goes on the market
- Collapsed or failing old concrete tanks
- Grease traps for restaurants and kitchens
Wichita septic questions
Questions from Wichita.
My Wichita house might be on septic. How do I tell?
Look at your water bill: a sewer charge usually means city sewer. No sewer charge, a concrete lid or riser in the yard, or a fenced pond behind the house (a lagoon) means an onsite system. If you’re still not sure, call (316) 777-4000 and we’ll help you find out.
Can I be forced onto city sewer?
In Sedgwick County, a property within 400 feet of public sewer is required to connect, and a new onsite permit may need a variance if connecting isn’t feasible. If your system is failing and a main is close, ask MABCD or the city before planning a replacement field.
Do you come out the same day in Wichita?
Often, yes. Reviewers describe a 30-minute arrival for a root clog and a same-afternoon visit after a morning call. It depends on the day’s schedule, so call (316) 777-4000 and tell us if sewage is backing up.
Is a sandy lot better for a septic field?
Sandy ground takes water well, which is why Sedgwick County allows septic fields where soils percolate between 0 and 60 minutes per inch. But sand near the river can also sit close to the water table, and the county can require a higher level of treatment where there are environmental concerns.
