Answer first: three visits a year, filed with the county

The standard TCEQ aerobic maintenance contract in Texas is built around three site visits per year. The licensed provider inspects the treatment unit, tests the aerator, checks the pump and floats, exercises the spray or drip disposal, tops off or verifies the chlorinator, and files a report with the county OSSF office. You get a copy for your records. Miss too many of those visits and the county has grounds to send a violation notice.

Why is a contract required in the first place?

Aerobic systems do more work than conventional gravity systems. They rely on an aerator running 24/7, a chlorinator that disinfects the treated effluent, and a pump that doses out the spray or drip field. When any one of those components quietly fails, poorly treated water reaches the yard. TCEQ's rule is that homeowners are not expected to catch that on their own, so a licensed maintenance provider has to check the system on a regular schedule.

What does the maintenance provider actually do on a visit?

Verify the aerator is running and moving the right amount of air into the treatment unit.
Check the pump tank, floats, and control panel for correct operation and any alarm history.
Exercise the spray heads or drip lines to confirm even distribution.
Inspect the chlorinator and top off tablets or confirm the homeowner is doing it.
Take a visual sample of the treated effluent to confirm clarity.
Walk the spray or drip field for wet spots, ponding, or smells.
File the service report with the county OSSF office and leave a copy for the homeowner.

What is not included in a maintenance contract?

This is where a lot of Ellis County homeowners get surprised. The contract covers inspection and adjustment. It does not cover:

Tank pumping. Pump-outs are a separate service. See septic pumping.
Replacement parts. Aerators, pumps, floats, control boards, and spray heads are billed separately when they wear out.
Chlorine tablets. Some providers include a small supply; most bill for the tablets they leave.
Emergency repair calls between visits. Those are ordinary septic repair calls.

What happens if you let the contract lapse?

Two things. First, the county OSSF office notices when reports stop showing up on a system it has on file, and a violation letter can follow. Second, the maintenance history you built up disappears from a buyer's due diligence when you eventually sell the home. Buyers, and often lenders, want to see a continuous contract. A visible gap becomes a negotiation point or a repair credit.

How does the contract affect resale?

A current contract with recent clean reports is one of the easiest wins in a Waxahachie septic-home sale. When we walk sellers through what buyers ask for in selling a septic home in Ellis County, the maintenance contract is at the top of that list. When the reports show consistent visits and no repeated issues, buyers relax. When the file is missing, buyers assume the worst.

What should a homeowner do between visits?

Top off chlorine tablets on the schedule the provider recommends, typically monthly.
Never plug the chlorinator with pool chlorine. Only septic-rated tablets belong there.
Call the provider promptly on any red alarm, not next week.
Keep spray heads clear of grass buildup and lawn equipment.
Save every service report and every pump-out receipt in one folder.

Your Aerobic Maintenance Contract, Explained