A small town with a long memory
Ben Wheeler was settled in the 1840s, was called Clough until 1878, and has spent recent years bringing its historic downtown back to life. The homes around it sit on acreage, on county roads and along the creeks, and nearly every one of them is on septic.
Ground and water
Soil reports for land around Ben Wheeler show fine sandy loams such as Freestone and Bernaldo, deep sands like Pickton and Wolfpen, and loams like Woodtell that sit on heavy clay. Creek bottoms and low ground near the Neches headwaters stay wet in winter and spring. That variety is why one neighbor has a drain field and the next has an aerobic spray system.
Who permits it
In unincorporated Van Zandt County, septic permits go through the Van Zandt County Fire Marshal’s Office in Canton, whose TCEQ Designated Representatives review OSSF applications and plans. The county says applications are approved or denied within 30 days.
Storm season
The April 2011 tornado that hit Ben Wheeler and Edom is a reminder that spring storms here are serious. After a storm, check that the aerobic system has power, the alarm is quiet and the lids are still secure.
Who issues septic permits in Ben Wheeler?
Ben Wheeler is unincorporated, so permits go through the Van Zandt County Fire Marshal’s Office in Canton, which acts for TCEQ on OSSF permits.
My Ben Wheeler yard stays soggy over the drain field in spring. Is it failing?
Not always, but it needs a look. A seasonal high water table can saturate a field, and so can a tank that hasn’t been pumped or a broken line. Cut back water use and call so the cause can be found.
Does Kennon Septic service aerobic systems around Ben Wheeler?
Aerobic service is one of the company’s listed specialties. Call (903) 275-3748 to ask about service and scheduling at your address.
We just bought a place outside Ben Wheeler. What should we do first?
Find out what kind of system you have, where the lids are and when it was last pumped. If it’s aerobic, ask for the maintenance contract and the last inspection report, and check the chlorinator.