Septic vs sewer
With public sewer, your drains empty into pipes that carry wastewater to a central treatment plant run by a city, district or utility.
The basic difference
With septic, your wastewater is treated on your own lot by a septic tank and drain field.
How to tell which you have: a septic home usually shows no sewer charge on the water bill (or gets no bill at all), and often has a private well. Property records and the county health department can confirm it. See the find your septic tank guide.
Sources: US EPA, Types of Septic Systems (last updated May 4, 2026); Penn State Extension, Septic System Basics (Faith Kibuye, updated Sep 16, 2024); US EPA, Frequent Questions on Septic Systems (last updated Mar 11, 2026)
Side by side
[EST] NACWA's 2023 index puts the national average sewer charge at $588 a year for a single-family home, which works out to about $49 a month (our division of the annual figure). Charges vary widely by region and state.
[EST] On the septic side, HomeAdvisor (updated Jun 19, 2026) puts one pumping at $290 to $550, recommended every three to five years, plus inspections and any repairs. The EPA's 2012 homeowner guide compared $250 to $300 of maintenance every three to four years with $3,000 to $7,000 to repair or replace a failed system; those figures are dated.
| Question | Septic system | Public sewer |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns it | You, the property owner | A public or private utility owns the sewer mains and treatment plant |
| Who maintains it | You: pumping, inspections and repairs | The utility, paid for through sewer charges |
| Regular cost [EST] | Pumping about $290 to $550 every 3 to 5 years (HomeAdvisor), plus inspections | National average $588 a year in 2023, about $49 a month (NACWA) |
| Big-ticket risk | Repairing or replacing the tank or drain field | Rate increases; average charges rose 3.2 percent in 2023 (NACWA) |
| Space on your lot | Room for the tank, the drain field and, in Arkansas, a secondary (backup) absorption area | No tank or drain field on the lot |
Sources: US EPA, Frequent Questions on Septic Systems (last updated Mar 11, 2026); National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), 2023 Cost of Clean Water Index; HomeAdvisor, How Much Does Septic Tank Repair Cost in 2026? (updated Jun 19, 2026); US EPA, A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (EPA-832-B-12-005, September 2012); Arkansas State Board of Health, Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (effective Sep 5, 2024)
When sewer becomes available: do you have to connect?
It depends on your state and often on your city or county. Here is what the state rules read for this guide say.
Cities and sewer districts may have their own connection ordinances, which this guide did not review, and they can apply where the state rule is silent. Connection (tap) fees and the cost of running a line to the main vary by utility and were not researched. Ask your city or utility before assuming you can keep a septic system when sewer lines arrive.
| State | What the state rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | All premises must connect to a sanitary sewer when it is within 300 feet of where the sewer leaves the building and can be reached without crossing someone else's property; septic systems may not be built, kept or used on those premises. Permits to build, alter or repair a septic system are refused where public sewer is reasonably available or economically feasible. | Arkansas Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (2024), 4.1 and 4.10.4 |
| Tennessee | The state refuses a construction permit for a septic system where an accessible public sewer exists. Accessible means the property's use of it is not limited by physical or other features, as the Commissioner determines. | Tenn. Rule 0400-48-01-.02 and -.06 |
| Missouri | Sewage must go either to a regulated sewer system or to a septic system operated under the state rules. No statewide distance rule requiring connection was found in the statute or rule sections read. | RSMo 701.031 |
| Oklahoma | No sewer connection requirement was found in the DEQ on-site rule. | OAC 252:641 |
Sources: Arkansas State Board of Health, Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (effective Sep 5, 2024); Tennessee Rule 0400-48-01, Regulations to Govern Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (April 2014, revised; current file on the TN Secretary of State site); Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 701.031 Disposal of sewage (effective Aug 28, 2005)
Closing the old septic tank
When a home switches to sewer, the old tank should not be left as it is. Arkansas requires an unused tank to be pumped by a licensed cleaner, collapsed and filled with clean material. Elsewhere, the EPA says state or county rules decide whether a tank must be removed or may be abandoned in place.
Until it is closed, keep the lid secured so no one can fall in.
Sources: Arkansas State Board of Health, Rules Pertaining to Onsite Wastewater Systems (effective Sep 5, 2024); US EPA, Frequent Questions on Septic Systems (last updated Mar 11, 2026); Missouri DHSS, An Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Owner's Manual, Troubleshooting System Problems (no date shown)
Is septic or sewer better?
Neither is better everywhere. The EPA says a properly installed, sited and maintained septic system should not harm water quality, and septic systems are common where there is no sewer. Sewer moves the upkeep and the risk to the utility in exchange for a monthly bill.
For a septic home, the cost and the risk both come down to maintenance: pumping, inspections and protecting the drain field.
Where homes sit close together on small lots or poor soil, some communities use a shared (cluster) system or a pressure sewer instead of individual systems.
Sources: US EPA, Frequent Questions on Septic Systems (last updated Mar 11, 2026); US EPA, A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems (EPA-832-B-12-005, September 2012); US EPA, Types of Septic Systems (last updated May 4, 2026); US EPA, Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet: Sewers, Pressure (EPA 832-F-02-006, September 2002)
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Find a licensed septic proCommon questions
Is septic cheaper than sewer?
[EST] Often, if the system is maintained. Pumping runs about $290 to $550 every three to five years (HomeAdvisor), while the national average sewer charge was $588 a year in 2023 (NACWA). A failed drain field or tank can erase the savings, so budget for repairs.
Do I have to connect to city sewer in Arkansas?
Arkansas's rule requires premises to connect when a sanitary sewer is within 300 feet of where the sewer leaves the building and can be reached without crossing another person's property. Check with your city for local rules too.
Can I keep my septic system if sewer comes to my street?
It depends on the state and the city. Arkansas requires connection within 300 feet. Tennessee refuses permits to build septic systems where an accessible public sewer exists; the sections read do not say whether an existing, working system must be closed. No state connection rule was found for Missouri or Oklahoma, but local ordinances may apply.
How do I know if my house is on septic or sewer?
Check your utility bill for a sewer charge. A $0.00 sewer charge or no bill usually means septic. A private well and neighbors on septic are other clues, and property records or the county health department can confirm it.
What happens to my septic tank if I connect to sewer?
It has to be closed. Arkansas requires it to be pumped by a licensed cleaner, collapsed and filled with clean material. In other states, local rules decide whether it is removed or abandoned in place.