Updated September 2026
What Does a Septic System Cost in Port Alberni?
Port Alberni Septic installs and repairs septic systems across Port Alberni, Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek and Cherry Creek. A new system typically runs $18,000 to $45,000 or more, and a pump-out runs $400 to $750. Send us a few details and we'll tell you where your property lands.
Updated September 2026
A septic system treats and disperses household sewage on a property that isn't connected to a municipal sewer line, using a tank and a drain field.
For a full breakdown of what a new system involves, see new septic system installation.
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Tank pump-out (single family) | $400 – $750 |
| Effluent filter clean / replace | $150 – $300 |
| Tank lid or riser install | $350 – $800 |
| Locating and uncovering a buried tank | $150 – $400 |
| Blockage / line clearing | $300 – $700 |
| Annual or scheduled maintenance visit | $200 – $450 |
| After-hours callout | $350 – $650 |
| Distribution box replacement | $800 – $2,500 |
| Pump, float or alarm replacement | $600 – $1,800 |
| Drain field repair (partial) | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Tank replacement only | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| Full drain field replacement | $12,000 – $25,000 |
| New Type 1 system | $18,000 – $30,000 |
| New Type 2 system | $25,000 – $45,000+ |
| Sand mound or pressure-dosed system | $25,000 – $45,000 |
| New Type 3 system | Custom quote on request |
| Site and soil assessment / perc test | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| System design (Type 1 and Type 2) | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Real-estate or pre-purchase inspection | $400 – $800 |
These are the ranges we quote in Port Alberni in 2026, based on our own completed jobs. The Island Health filing is included in the system design fee, not billed separately. Requesting sewerage records from Island Health costs $50 per property — that's Island Health's fee, not ours.
What drives the price
Most of the price comes down to which system your lot needs. A Type 1 is the basic setup — a tank and a drain field. A Type 2 has extra treatment gear on top of that, so it costs more to buy and more to put in. A Type 3 is a custom quote, because a professional designs each one for the property. The ground matters too — poor soil or a high water table can mean a bigger field or a pressure-dosed system.
Design work is billed on its own
Design work is a separate charge. First we dig test pits and read the soil, then we draw up the system. The Island Health filing is included in that design fee, so it's never billed as a separate line.
What a repair or a pump-out actually costs
A pump-out is the cheapest job we do, and a full drain field replacement costs close to a new system. We tell you where your job lands before we start.
Buying or selling a property with a septic system
A performance or pre-purchase inspection runs $400 to $800 and tells you the system's condition before you close. If Island Health has no records for the property, requesting them costs $50, paid to Island Health directly.
Getting an exact price
The visit is free. Once we've seen your lot, you get the price in writing, with what's included, so you can look it over and ask questions before you decide.
See new septic system installation, or, for an existing system, septic repairs.
We price and install septic systems across Port Alberni, Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek and Cherry Creek, in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, and we give you the price in writing before any work starts.
For an exact price on your Port Alberni property, request a free quote.