Older tanks, newer sewer
McAllen Septic: Donna Septic Service
Tank replacements, inspections and septic repairs for Donna homes and the colonias around them.
- McAllen, Edinburg, Mission and towns within 20 miles
- Licensed, insured local septic contractors
- Conventional and aerobic systems
- Written price before work starts
- Straight answers on TCEQ and county rules
McAllen Septic connects Donna homeowners with local septic contractors for tank replacements, inspections and repairs. Donna has the oldest homes of any city we cover, 32.1 percent built before 1980, and septic trouble after floods is on the county's public record. Here is who builds sewer and what a tank costs.
A $300 to $600 inspection on an aging Donna tank can catch a cracked wall or failing baffle before it becomes a $4,500 to $9,000 system replacement.
Donna's Two Sewer Builders and the 2019 Colonia Hookups
TCEQ lists Donna as its own authorized agent for on-site systems; its sewer ordinance is not published online. Two utilities build sewer here. The city's 1998 upgrade gave about 500 households in nearby colonias wastewater service for the first time. On March 20, 2019, North Alamo Water Supply Corporation opened a 0.5 mgd plant northwest of Donna that brought first-time sewer to 400 homes in six colonias, including Alberta Acres and Tower Road Estates. A second phase serving 1,634 people is listed as active by TWDB.
Ponded Clay Pockets and Donna's Flood Record
Most of Donna sits on Hidalgo sandy clay loam, 16 of 25 sample points, rated "somewhat limited" for absorption fields. The trouble spots are two wet clays, Benito clay, ponded, and Tiocano clay, occasionally ponded, both "very limited" for septic fields. On June 20, 2018, the National Weather Service reported multiple structures and cars inundated by flood waters in the city of Donna. In 2015 the county health department wrote that flooding had damaged septic systems on 463 nearby lots and cited undersized lots holding antiquated septic systems.
Hooks Avenue, FM 493 and Donna Lake
Donna lies about 13.6 miles east of McAllen's center point, between Alamo and Weslaco, with the Rio Grande a few miles south. Interstate 2 and US 83 cross its north side, Hooks Avenue runs through the center, and FM 493 heads south to five colonias just outside the city. Of its 5,865 homes, 17.9 percent are mobile homes. Its best-known landmark is the Donna Reservoir and Canal System, a Superfund site since 2008 after PCBs turned up in fish. The median home was built in 1989.
ZIP codes covered: 78537
Signs a Donna Septic Tank Needs Replacing
- A smell right after a pump-out
- Ground sinking around the lids
- Concrete pieces during pumping
- Backups after every pumping
Old Septic Tank in Donna? Call Now.
Call to reach a local septic contractor for a Donna inspection or tank replacement.
Call (956) 758-8136Septic Tank Replacement in Donna
Texas counts a new tank as a repair needing a permit for the whole system, built by a licensed installer and inspected. Read more on septic tank replacement in Donna.
Septic Inspection in Donna
A Donna seller answers septic questions on the TREC disclosure form, and a lender may ask for an inspection before closing. See how a septic inspection in Donna works.
Drain Field Replacement in Donna
Benito and Tiocano clays pond, so a field laid in them can stay saturated. Fixr puts a new field at $3,500 to $11,000. More on drain field replacement in Donna.
Aerobic Septic Repair in Donna
Older aerobic spray systems remain in Hidalgo County yards; Wholesale Septic Supply lists air pumps at $265 to $295 before labor. Read about aerobic septic repair in Donna.
Septic Services Available in Donna
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Septic Tank Cleaning
Routine pump-outs that pull sludge and scum before they reach the drain field.
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Septic System Installation
New conventional systems, from the soil borings to the county's final inspection.
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Drain Field Repair
Lateral line and trench fixes before a soggy yard becomes a full rebuild.
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Drain Field Replacement
A new leach field when the old trenches will no longer take effluent.
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Septic Tank Replacement
A new tank set in place, permitted, and the old one closed out properly.
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Septic Inspection
A close look at the tank and lines before you buy, sell or refinance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Donna Septic Questions
Who handles septic permits in Donna?
Inside city limits, the City of Donna, a TCEQ authorized agent. Outside the city, Hidalgo County's Environmental Health Division permits new and replacement septic systems.
How much does septic tank replacement cost in Donna?
Fixr puts a full system replacement at $4,500 to $9,000, and the tank alone at $800 to $2,000 for 1,000 gallons. Both are typical ranges.
What are the signs my Donna septic tank is failing?
A smell that lingers after pumping, sinking ground around the lids and backups that keep returning, especially in an older Donna house, one built before 1980.
Did the North Alamo sewer project reach my Donna colonia?
Phase I, opened in March 2019, covered six colonias northwest of Donna, from Alberta Acres to Tower Road Estates. A second phase is active in TWDB's program.
How close can a septic tank be to my well in Donna?
State minimums put a tank 50 feet and a drain field 100 feet from a private well, and a tank 5 feet from the foundation and lot lines.