Planning septic system installation in Merritt Island? Whether you are building a new home, replacing a mobile home or adding onto an older house, a new septic system on the island has to meet some of the strictest rules in Florida. This page explains what a new system involves, why the design matters so much here and what to expect from the first call to the final inspection.
What septic tank installation in Merritt Island looks like today
A decade ago, a new home here might get a basic concrete tank and a simple drain field. That is no longer allowed. Since 2018, Brevard County has banned new conventional septic tanks on Merritt Island. On top of that, since January 1, 2024, Florida has required every new septic system in the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program area to be a nitrogen-reducing system when central sewer is not available.
In practice, that means every new septic installation in Merritt Island, FL is one of these designs:
- An aerobic treatment unit (ATU) that is certified to reduce nitrogen. It adds air to the wastewater so bacteria can break down waste and remove nitrogen before it reaches the drain field.
- An in-ground nitrogen-reducing biofilter, which uses special layers of material under the drain field to strip out nitrogen with no blower.
- Another state-approved nitrogen-reducing system that fits your lot.
Which one is right depends on your lot. Our nitrogen-reducing septic guide compares them side by side.
Why design matters on the island
Merritt Island sits between the Indian River and the Banana River, so water is never far away. Two things shape a new system more than anything else.
Groundwater is close to the surface. The drain field must sit a set distance above the highest seasonal water table. On many island lots, that means the drain field is built up above the natural grade. The site evaluation measures this, and the permit office checks it.
The soil is sand. Sandy soil passes water quickly, which is good for drainage but poor at catching nitrogen. That is the whole reason the state now requires nitrogen-reducing treatment here.
Other things that change the design include the number of bedrooms, the size of the home, where the well or neighbor's well is, canals and seawalls nearby, and how much open yard you have.
New septic system installation, step by step
- Call or request a quote. Share your address, the number of bedrooms and your build timeline.
- Site evaluation. The contractor or an engineer checks the soil, digs test holes, finds the seasonal high water table and maps the lot.
- System design. Based on that evaluation, the contractor picks a nitrogen-reducing system and draws a site plan.
- Septic permit. The application goes to the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County. Florida is moving septic permitting to the Department of Environmental Protection county by county, so your contractor will file with whichever office handles Brevard at the time.
- Installation. The tank, treatment unit and drain field are installed. If fill is needed to raise the system, it is brought in and shaped.
- Inspection. An inspector checks the work before it is covered. Then the system is backfilled and the final approval is issued.
- Start-up and maintenance. If you have an ATU, you will need a service contract and an operating permit. The contractor explains how it works.
New construction vs. adding to an existing home
For brand-new homes, the septic system is usually planned with the builder. The septic permit has to line up with the building permit, so get the site evaluation done early.
If you are adding bedrooms or square footage to an existing house, the current septic system may no longer be big enough. That counts as a change to the system, and on Merritt Island it often means moving to a new, nitrogen-reducing design. Ask before you finalize your remodel plans.
A replacement of an old, failing system is a little different. See our septic tank replacement page for that.
How much does a new septic system cost?
If you found us by searching "septic installation near me," you are in the right place as long as your lot is on the island. Every lot is different, so the only real number is the one on your written quote. The biggest cost drivers are the type of nitrogen-reducing system, how much fill is needed to rise above the water table, and how hard the site is to reach. Our septic system cost guide covers this in detail.
The county's septic upgrade grant is built for upgrading existing septic systems, so brand-new construction usually does not qualify. If you are replacing an older system on a developed lot, ask about it.