Septic Tank Pumping in Colorado Springs & El Paso County

What a licensed pumper has to do in El Paso County, how to tell when your tank is due, and how to find your tank and its county records.

What happens during a septic tank pumping in El Paso County?

A licensed systems cleaner pumps out the accumulated sludge and scum from every compartment of the tank, unless you, the owner, direct otherwise. During the visit they also check the parts that keep solids out of your drainfield.

Section 8.4.F.2.d of El Paso County's Chapter 8 OWTS regulations (effective July 11, 2026; retrieved 2026-10-20) sets out what the cleaner must do:

• Remove the accumulated sludge and scum from each compartment of the septic tank.
• Inspect the outlet tees and baffles. Any that are missing or damaged on the outlet side must be reported in writing to the owner and to El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) within 7 days.
• Check every effluent screen and clean, repair or replace it as needed.
• Notify EPCPH in writing within 7 days if the system is malfunctioning or failing when it is serviced.
• Haul the septage in an enclosed tank and dispose of it only at a municipal sewage treatment plant or another site that lawfully accepts it.
• Keep pumping and disposal records for at least 12 months.

The U.S. EPA adds that a service provider should check for leaks and examine the scum and sludge layers. They should also note any repairs and the tank's condition in a service report.

Does a septic pumping company need a license in El Paso County?

Yes. Chapter 8 says no one may clean an onsite wastewater treatment system, or haul septage to a disposal site, without a valid systems cleaner license issued by EPCPH (section 8.4.F.2.a).

To get the license, a company must list every truck in its fleet and show current certification from the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT) or an EPCPH-approved equivalent. The license lasts two years. EPCPH's 2026 program update notes two changes from July 11, 2026: individual truck inspections were dropped, and individual employees don't need their own certifications.

Colorado's Regulation 43 (section 43.4.K) lets each local board of health choose whether to license systems cleaners, and El Paso County has chosen to. EPCPH publishes a list of licensed cleaners on its Find an OWTS Professional page.

How do I find a licensed septic tank pumping company near me?

Use El Paso County Public Health's Licensed Cleaners list (retrieved 2026-10-20). It gives each licensed systems cleaner's company name, city and ZIP code, and phone number.

The list is linked from the department's Find an OWTS Professional page, which also lists licensed installers and certified inspectors. A company's city on the list is its own address, not a service area, so ask each one whether it serves your part of the county. This site doesn't rank, review or endorse any company on the list.

Is septic tank cleaning the same as septic tank pumping?

In El Paso County's rules, yes. Chapter 8 defines "cleaning" as removing septage or other wastes from a wastewater treatment system component, and a "systems cleaner" as a person licensed in the cleaning and pumping of onsite systems (section 8.3, definitions 19 and 135).

So a quote for "septic tank cleaning" should cover the same duties the Chapter 8 regulations (retrieved 2026-10-20) set for a pumping, listed above, and the same license is required.

What should I do if I need emergency septic pumping?

If sewage is backing up into the house, the U.S. EPA lists that as a sign of a failing system (retrieved 2026-10-20), so call a licensed cleaner from the county's list. None of the official sources this site uses sets out a separate emergency procedure for homeowners.

What the county rules do say: a licensed cleaner who finds the system malfunctioning or failing must notify El Paso County Public Health in writing within 7 days (Chapter 8, section 8.4.F.2.d). If the fix turns out to be a repair rather than a pumping, Chapter 8 (section 8.4.B.1) requires a permit before the repair work starts. See signs your septic system needs service for the full list of warning signs and the county's repair permit fees, and emergency septic backup for what to do while you wait for a pumper.

How do you know when a septic tank is due for pumping?

The U.S. EPA says to pump when the bottom of the scum layer is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet, or the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet. It is also due when sludge and scum together take up more than 25 percent of the liquid depth.

Only someone who opens the tank and measures can tell you this. The EPA suggests writing down the sludge and scum levels at each visit so you can track how fast your tank fills. For the calendar-based schedule, see how often to pump a septic tank in El Paso County.

How big is a typical septic tank in El Paso County?

For new homes, El Paso County sets a minimum septic tank size by bedroom count. Older systems may have been built to earlier rules, so check your own records for the actual size.

How do I find my septic tank and its records?

Start with the county's records. EPCPH says El Paso County OWTS records can be viewed online through the El Paso County Assessor's Public Records Real Estate Property Search.

Not every parcel has complete records. If yours isn't there, EPCPH asks you to email [email protected] (retrieved 2026-10-20).

The record drawing (the "as-built") shows where the tank sits. The EPA notes that a septic tank is usually about 10 feet from the house, and that some have a black or green access riser at the surface. In El Paso County, tanks installed under current rules must have watertight risers over each access manhole. The risers must be at least 20 inches across inside and reach finished grade (Chapter 8, section 8.8.D.1). Tanks installed before these rules may have buried lids that need digging out first.

Do septic tank additives replace pumping?

No. The U.S. EPA does not recommend additives for household systems. It says they aren't needed for a septic system to work properly, and that some can reduce how well the drainfield performs.

Additives don't remove the sludge that pumping removes.

How much does septic tank pumping cost in Colorado Springs?

We haven't found a published, verifiable source for pumping prices in El Paso County, so we don't quote a figure. Price depends on the provider and the job.

Ask any licensed cleaner for a written quote that says what it covers, such as how many compartments, locating and uncovering the lid, and checking the effluent screen.

Who is responsible for maintaining a septic system?

The property owner. Both Regulation 43 (section 43.14.A) and El Paso County's Chapter 8 (section 8.14.A) put maintenance on the owner.

An owner can contract the work out to a tenant or a third party, but the county regulation says that does not relieve the owner of ultimate responsibility.