Conventional gravity systems
A septic tank feeding a gravity drain field, for lots with enough suitable soil between the trenches and groundwater.
New installs · Replacements · Drain fields · Engineered systems
Septic System Installation in Missoula, MT
Handy's Construction installs and replaces septic systems for homes and cabins across Missoula and western Montana, from conventional tanks and drain fields to engineered systems where the soil or groundwater calls for them. Owner Tyler Handy is a licensed septic contractor, and the crew digs every system with its own equipment.
Last updated: November 2026
Handy's Construction is a licensed and insured Montana general contractor based in Missoula, owner-operated by Tyler Handy and serving Missoula, Ravalli, Mineral and Lake Counties.
What does a septic installation from Handy’s Construction include?
Short answer
A Handy's Construction septic job covers the site visit, coordination of the site evaluation and county health permit, excavation of the tank hole and drain field, setting and connecting the tank, installing the distribution lines to the approved design, the inspection before backfill, and final grading. The same crew does the dig and the install.
Most homes and cabins outside city sewer service in western Montana depend on a septic system, and a new one cannot go in until the county says where and what kind. If you are searching for septic installation in Missoula or a septic system installation near me, the first thing to know is that the permit and the soil decide the design, not the installer's preference. The installer's job is to build exactly what the permit approves, cleanly and on grade.
Owner Tyler Handy is a licensed septic contractor, and Handy's Construction installs systems with its own excavators and dump trucks. That matters for two reasons. The drain field gets dug by people who install septic systems rather than a general excavator, and on a new build the septic system is scheduled with the site prep, trenching and foundation instead of as a separate job with a separate company.
The work covers new systems for new homes, cabins and ADUs, and replacement of failed tanks and drain fields on existing properties across Missoula, the Bitterroot, the Blackfoot and the Mission Valley.
What we install
Which septic systems does Handy’s Construction install?
Handy's Construction installs the system type the county permit calls for. On most western Montana lots that is one of these.
Pressure-dosed systems
A pump chamber doses effluent evenly across the drain field, used where soils, slope or groundwater make gravity distribution a poor fit.
Engineered alternative systems
Other engineered designs, such as raised or advanced treatment systems, where the permit requires them on tight, fast or wet sites.
Replacement systems
New tanks and drain fields to replace failed systems on existing homes and cabins, permitted and built to current rules.
New-build septic
Systems for new homes, cabins and ADUs, installed in sequence with the site prep, trenching and foundation.
Sewer lines and trenching
The building sewer from the house to the tank and the trenches to the drain field, dug and graded to the design.
Soil & water
Why does western Montana soil and groundwater shape septic design?
Handy's Construction installs to a design set by the county, and that design follows the ground. A drain field has to treat effluent in the soil before it reaches groundwater, so how fast the soil drains and how close the water table sits decide the system type and layout.
- High spring groundwater
Near the Clark Fork, the Bitterroot and their creeks, groundwater rises in spring. Sites like these often need a pressure-dosed or engineered system to keep enough separation.
- Soil that is too tight or too fast
Lake-bed silt and clay drain slowly; river sand and gravel can drain too fast to treat effluent. Both change the design.
- The valley aquifer
The Missoula Valley draws its drinking water from the aquifer beneath it, which is one reason local septic rules are careful about where and how systems go in.
- Frost and cover
Lines and tanks need proper cover and grade so they do not freeze, and frozen ground limits when installs can happen.
The process
How does Handy’s Construction install a septic system, step by step?
Handy's Construction takes every septic job through five steps, from the first site visit to an inspected, backfilled system.
Site visit
Tyler walks the property, looks at where the house, well, tank and drain field can go, and checks slope, access and ground.
Site evaluation and design
The soil and site are evaluated as the county requires, and the system type and drain field layout are set for the permit application.
Permit
The permit is issued by the county health department under Montana DEQ rules before any digging starts.
Excavation and installation
The tank hole and drain field are dug with Handy's equipment, the tank is set and connected, and the distribution lines are placed to the approved design.
Inspection and backfill
The system is inspected before it is covered, then backfilled, graded and the site cleaned up.
Who issues septic permits in Missoula County and nearby counties?
Handy's Construction works through the county health department that covers your property. In Missoula County, septic permits come from the Missoula City-County Health Department; in Ravalli, Lake and Mineral Counties they come from each county's environmental health office. All of them apply Montana DEQ rules.
- Site evaluation
- Design & application
- Permit issued
- Install
- Inspection
Our guide to septic system installation in Missoula County walks through the process in plain terms, and preparing a rural lot explains where the septic fits among well, driveway and house.
FAQ
What do people ask about septic systems in western Montana?
Planning a new system or replacing an old one? Call (406) 491-6141 and talk it through with Tyler.
Do I need a permit to install a septic system in Missoula County?
Yes. New and replacement septic systems need a permit from the county health department before work starts. In Missoula County that is the Missoula City-County Health Department; Ravalli, Lake and Mineral Counties have their own environmental health offices, all working under Montana DEQ rules. Handy's Construction coordinates the steps.
What is the difference between a conventional and an engineered septic system?
A conventional system is a tank plus a gravity-fed drain field, and it works where there is enough suitable soil above groundwater. Where soils are too tight or too fast, groundwater is high or space is short, the permit may call for a pressure-dosed or other engineered alternative system. Handy's Construction installs both types.
Does Handy's Construction replace failing septic systems?
Yes. Handy's Construction replaces failed tanks and drain fields on existing homes and cabins. A replacement goes through the same county permit process as a new system, and the new drain field is placed where the permit and the soil allow.
Is Handy's Construction a licensed septic installer?
Owner Tyler Handy is a licensed septic contractor, and the company digs and installs the whole system with its own excavators and trucks rather than handing the dig to another company.
How much does a septic system cost in western Montana?
It depends on the system type the permit requires, tank size, the soil and any rock, the length of the drain field, access for equipment and the season. Handy's Construction gives a free written estimate after a site visit. Our guide to septic installation in Missoula County covers the process.
Can you install the septic system as part of a new home build?
Yes. On a new build, Handy's Construction installs the septic system in sequence with site prep, trenching and the home itself, so the tank, sewer line and drain field line up with the house.
More from Handy’s
Other Services You May Need
Excavation & Site Prep
Clearing, grading, basement digs, trenching and driveways for build sites.
- Land clearing and grading
- Basement and footing digs
- Utility trenching
Custom Home Building
Custom homes and cabins built from the foundation up in western Montana.
- Excavation and foundation in-house
- Built for snow load and cold
- Additions and ADUs too
Concrete & Foundations
Footings, foundation walls, slabs and flatwork poured below frost.
- Dig, form, pour, backfill
- Shop and garage slabs
- Patios and flatwork
Septic installation near you
Free estimates
Ready to plan a septic system?
Tell Handy's Construction what you are building and where. Tyler looks at the site, the access and the ground, then gives you a written estimate with no pressure and no obligation.
or call (406) 491-6141