In Roxbury Township, like much of Morris County, you’ll find a mix of housing styles and neighborhoods. Some are connected to the public sewer, while others rely on individual, on-site septic systems. If you’re new to the area or new to septic ownership, the differences between these two systems can seem vast.
Many people view public sewers as “easier” and septic systems as “a hassle.” But this perspective often comes from a misunderstanding of what a septic system is and how it works.
The truth is, both systems have significant pros and cons. A septic system puts you, the homeowner, in complete control of your wastewater treatment. It’s a trade-off: in exchange for a little bit of maintenance, you gain freedom from monthly sewer bills and the vulnerabilities of municipal infrastructure.
Let’s do a side-by-side comparison to help you understand the key differences and what they mean for you as a Roxbury resident.
What is a Public Sewer?
When your home is connected to a public sewer, everything you flush or send down the drain travels through a network of underground pipes, known as a “sewer main.” This main, which is owned and operated by your local municipality or a utility authority, transports the wastewater from your entire neighborhood to a central wastewater treatment plant.
At this massive facility, the sewage is treated on an industrial scale before the water is safely discharged back into the environment.
Pros of Public Sewer:
· “Set it and Forget It”: You don’t have to think about it. You flush, and it’s gone.
· No Maintenance: You are not responsible for any part of the system beyond the pipe leaving your house.
· No Land Use: The system doesn’t take up any space on your property.
Cons of Public Sewer:
· The Monthly Bill: You “pay as you go” forever. You will receive a monthly or quarterly sewer bill, which often increases over time to pay for aging infrastructure and plant upgrades.
· No Control: If the sewer main on your street backs up (due to a clog or heavy storm), you can get a sewage backup in your basement, and there’s nothing you could have done to prevent it.
· Connection Fees: If you live in an area where sewers are being expanded, the “assessment” or one-time cost to connect can be enormous, often $10,000 to $30,000.
What is a Septic System?
A septic system is your own personal, on-site wastewater treatment plant. It’s typically a two-part system:
1. The Septic Tank: A large, buried, watertight container.
2. The Drain Field: A network of underground pipes in your yard.
When you flush, the waste goes to the tank. There, solids settle out, and bacteria break them down. The liquid wastewater then flows to the drain field, where it is slowly and naturally filtered by the soil, returning clean water to the groundwater table.
Pros of a Septic System:
· No Monthly Bill: You are your own utility. Aside from pumping every 3-5 years, you do not pay a monthly fee for wastewater treatment.
· Environmentally Friendly: A properly functioning septic system is a “green” technology. It uses natural soil and microbes to treat water and recharges the local groundwater, rather than discharging water into a river.
· Independence: You are not reliant on municipal infrastructure. If a sewer main breaks, it doesn’t affect you.
Cons of a Septic System:
· Maintenance is Required: This is the big one. You are 100% responsible. You must perform routine maintenance, primarily Septic Pumping Roxbury Township NJ, every 3-5 years.
· You Are What You Flush: You have to be careful about what you put down the drain (no “flushable” wipes, no grease, etc.), as you are responsible for the consequences.
· Space & Cost: The system takes up a significant part of your yard (the drain field). And if the system fails due to neglect, the replacement cost (which can be $15,000-$40,000) falls entirely on you.
The Cost Comparison: A Lifetime View
This is where things get interesting.
· Sewer: Let’s say your average monthly sewer bill is $60. That’s $720 per year. Over a 30-year mortgage, you will have paid $21,600 in sewer bills, not accounting for price increases.
· Septic: Let’s say you get a Septic Pumping Roxbury Township NJ service every 4 years at a cost of $400. That’s an average cost of $100 per year. Over 30 years, you will have paid $3,000 in maintenance.
Now, this septic calculation assumes your system is healthy. The great equalizer is the cost of failure. If you neglect your septic system and have to replace the drain field for $20,000, you’ve just wiped out all of your savings.
This is why the “hassle” of a septic system isn’t really a hassle at all. It’s a simple, predictable trade-off. The system asks you to do two things:
1. Be mindful of what you flush.
2. Pay for a professional pumping service once every 3-5 years.
In exchange for those two simple tasks, you get a system that will last 30, 40, or even 50+ years and save you tens of thousands of dollars in monthly utility bills. When you look at it that way, a septic system isn’t a burden—it’s a smart, self-reliant, and economical asset for your Roxbury home.
