Most of Temecula and Murrieta is on city sewer, but not all of it. Head out toward wine country, De Luz or the larger lots in French Valley and Wildomar, and you'll find plenty of homes that still run on a septic tank with a leach field or seepage pit behind it. Those systems need regular care, and the people who own them want someone who picks up the phone.
Valley Drilling Co is a family-owned, C-42 licensed septic contractor, in business since 1950. Call (909) 795-6164. A real person answers 7 days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, and after-hours emergency calls are answered too.
Septic Pumping in Temecula and Murrieta
Routine pumping keeps a system out of trouble. We locate the tank, uncover buried lids, pump it out and check the sludge and scum layers. Then we tell you what we saw and when it makes sense to call again.
Just bought a rural property and nobody knows where the tank is? That's fine. Finding it is part of the job. If you have an old permit drawing, keep it handy.
Bigger homes with guest quarters or a lot of visitors can fill a tank faster than the original design expected. If that sounds like your place, ask us about a shorter pumping interval. Our septic tank pumping guide covers the warning signs.
Repairs and Leach Field Problems
A backup right after a pump-out usually means the tank isn't the problem. It could be roots in the line, a broken baffle, or a disposal area that has stopped taking water. We find the cause before recommending anything, and we repair what can be repaired instead of pushing a whole new system.
On sloped lots, and on ground that's been regraded for vines, pads or a long driveway, lines can get crushed or shifted over the years. Trucks and equipment parked over a leach field do the same kind of damage. Tell us what's been built or driven over the system lately. It helps narrow things down. See our pages on leach line repair and seepage pits for more on how we approach each one.
Escrow Inspections for Rural Lots
Buying or selling a home on septic in the Temecula area? Buyers and lenders often want an inspection before close of escrow. We pump the tank, look at its condition and the condition of the disposal area, and report what we found so your agent has it in hand. Mention escrow when you call and we'll schedule around your timeline. Read more about escrow inspections and certification.
New Systems, ADUs and Riverside County Permits
A vacant lot, a failed system or a planned guest house all start with the soil. PERC testing shows how fast the ground takes water, and the results decide what kind of system the lot can support.
In unincorporated areas, septic permits go through the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health. Inside Temecula, Murrieta or Wildomar city limits, the permit runs through the city or county, depending on the property. We coordinate the design and the permits. When the county requires stamped plans, an outside licensed engineer stamps them.
Planning an ADU? The real question is whether the existing tank and leach field can handle the extra flow. Sometimes they can, and sometimes the system needs an upgrade first. Our ADU septic page walks through it.
Areas We Cover
Temecula & Murrieta Septic Questions
How do I know if my Temecula home is on septic?
Start with your property records or the seller's disclosures, then look at your water bill. If there's no sewer charge on it, there's a good chance you're on septic. A cleanout pipe or a buried lid in the yard is another clue. Still not sure? Call us and we'll help you figure it out.
Who issues septic permits in Temecula and Murrieta?
For unincorporated areas, it's the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health. For properties inside city limits, it's the city or county, depending on the property. We handle the permit paperwork for repairs and new systems that need one.
Do you work on wine country and large acreage properties?
Yes. Large lots and wine country properties are a big reason septic is still common around Temecula. Some have more than one tank, or a system nobody has mapped, and tracking it down is part of the job.
Can you help if sewage backs up on a weekend?
Yes. We answer 7 days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, and after-hours emergency calls are answered too. Stop using water and call (909) 795-6164.
Septic help in Temecula or Murrieta?
Call (909) 795-6164. We answer 7 days, 8 AM–8 PM, and after-hours emergencies are answered too.
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Nearby
We work across the rest of the county too, including Hemet, San Jacinto and Menifee. See our Riverside County septic page for the bigger picture, or our San Diego County page if your property is south of the county line. For specific services, start with septic tank pumping, leach line repair, seepage pits, escrow inspections, PERC testing or septic for ADUs.
More answers on our Septic FAQ, or read about our company.