Septic Tank Pumping in Colonie, NY
Colonie went from farmland to the Capital Region's biggest suburb in fifty years. Most of it is on Pure Waters sewer, but the septic homes that remain, from Latham to the Pine Bush edge, are ours to keep running.
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Built out by 1980, sewered gradually since.
Colonie has about 85,600 residents, more than any other town in the region. It was still farms into the 1930s and was essentially built out by 1980, with the hamlets of Latham and Loudonville anchoring the north and south. The town's Pure Waters sewer system runs 383 miles of mains and serves about 24,000 connections, so septic is the minority. But a 2010 Albany County GIS count put roughly 7,543 septic systems across Colonie, Bethlehem, Guilderland and New Scotland combined, and a meaningful share of those are here on the larger lots and the older roads the mains skipped.
What the town code expects
Chapter 155 of the Colonie code sets the ground rules: a county permit for any system, no soil-absorption systems on lots under 15,000 square feet, and a connection within 90 days once sewer becomes available, with the old tank pumped and filled. The practical takeaway is that a Colonie septic system is a bridge to an eventual sewer hookup, and the best way to make that bridge cheap is to pump on a 3 to 5 year schedule so the drain field never fails before the main arrives.
West of town, toward Guilderland, the ground turns to Pine Bush dune sand. Fast-draining, forgiving for drain fields, and no excuse to skip a pump-out.
Colonie services
- Septic tank cleaning for homes that have been on the same tank since the house went up
- Emergency pumping for backups, since the Albany County North Plant in Menands is minutes away for disposal
- Grease trap pumping for the restaurants along the Wolf Road and Route 9 corridors
Colonie pumping prices
A 750-gallon tank typically runs $225 to $450 and a 1,000-gallon tank $275 to $550. Grease trap pumping is $150 to $450 depending on size. Emergency and after-hours calls add $150 to $400. These are estimates; the final quote follows a look at the tank and access. See the cost page for every size.
Albany County's Septic System Replacement Program pays 50% up to $10,000 toward replacing systems that affect designated waterbodies (518-447-4649). It does not cover pumping, but it matters if an inspection turns up a failing field.
Colonie FAQ
Colonie's sewer just reached my street. Can I keep my septic tank?
Town code Chapter 155 requires connection within 90 days once sewer is available, and the tank is then pumped out and filled. The Pure Waters system already has about 24,000 connections across 383 miles of mains, so most of town is served. If a new main just passed your house, the visit we schedule will likely be the last pump-out before the tank is decommissioned.
Who issues septic permits in Colonie?
Albany County Department of Health permits new and repaired systems, and Colonie's code adds its own rules, including no soil-absorption systems on lots under 15,000 square feet. Repairs that come out of an inspection go through the county with an engineered design, a test pit and percolation testing. Routine pumping needs no permit.
How much is septic pumping in Latham or Loudonville?
Same as the rest of Colonie: typically $275 to $550 for a 1,000-gallon tank and $400 to $800 for 1,500 gallons. Both hamlets are about 10 miles from Albany, so travel is minimal. The quote firms up once we know the tank size and whether the lid is at grade or buried.
Nearby areas
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