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Installing an On-Site System in Forrest & Lamar County
You can have a slab, a frame and a roof, and still have no water. In Mississippi, a new home's water meter generally waits for MSDH to approve its septic system.
Order of operations
| Step | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notice of Intent filed | Owner or builder, with MSDH |
| 2 | Soil and site evaluation | MSDH |
| 3 | Permit/Recommendation for the system type | MSDH |
| 4 | Installation to the approved design | MSDH-certified installer |
| 5 | Final approval, then the water meter | MSDH, then the water utility |
The rules are in Title 15, Part 3, Subpart 77 of the Mississippi Administrative Code.
What Pine Belt soils usually mean
On better-drained sandy uplands, conventional trenches can work. Much of the area has silty or clay subsoil and a seasonally high water table, so MSDH often recommends an elevated mound or an advanced treatment unit. Lots in or near the floodplains of the Leaf and Bouie rivers face the tightest limits, and some may not be suitable at all.
Tips for builders and owners
- File the Notice of Intent early. Spring rain and storm season can delay evaluations.
- Keep heavy equipment and fill piles off the proposed system area.
- Leave room for a replacement area if the lot allows.
- Tell MSDH the true number of bedrooms, as that sets the system size.
Hattiesburg installation questions
Why can't I get a water meter for my new house?
In Mississippi, a new home's water meter is generally set only after the Mississippi State Department of Health approves the on-site system. See our water meter rule page.
What system will I need near Hattiesburg?
That depends on the soil and site evaluation. Wet or clay soils often lead to a mound or an advanced treatment unit.
Who installs septic systems in Forrest and Lamar counties?
Installers certified by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
How big will my septic tank be?
It is sized by bedrooms under MSDH rules. Around 1,000 gallons is typical for a three-bedroom home.
A licensed site evaluator has to answer that with a soil test; nobody can tell from a map. Send us your address and we will pass it to a licensed local professional where one is available. Request a quote →
Around the Pine Belt
- Purvis: Lamar County seat. Larger lots, mostly on-site treatment.
- Sumrall: Rural Lamar County. Well and septic is normal, which raises the separation distances that apply.
- Lumberton: Southern Lamar County, lower and wetter, where water table depth does the deciding.
Underneath most of it: silt, clay, and far too much rain. What that means for a system.