Septic installation, repair, and replacement throughout Onondaga County. Syracuse, Camillus, Manlius, Skaneateles, Tully, Pompey, Marcellus, and beyond.
Backwell is one of Central New York's most established septic contractors, serving Onondaga County since 2007. New septic system installation, septic repair, leach field installation and replacement, drain field repair, septic line repair, and pump replacement — all self-performed, all built to NYS Department of Health Appendix 75-A and Onondaga County Department of Health code.
If you're in Syracuse, North Syracuse, East Syracuse, Liverpool, Cicero, Camillus, Manlius, Baldwinsville, DeWitt, or anywhere in Onondaga County, call (315) 400-2654 for a free written estimate.
We serve every town and village in Onondaga County:
Baldwinsville, East Syracuse, Fabius, Fayetteville, Jordan, Liverpool, Manlius, Marcellus, Minoa, North Syracuse, Skaneateles, Solvay, Tully
The Onondaga County Department of Health (OCDOH) Bureau of Environmental Health issues all septic system permits in Onondaga County. Backwell submits permit applications, coordinates required perc tests and deep hole observations with the inspector, and schedules required inspections during construction.
Typical OCDOH permit review timing: 2–4 weeks for conventional residential systems, longer for engineered systems requiring additional review.
OCDOH-required submittals for new systems typically include:
We have direct working relationships with OCDOH inspectors and submit complete applications that move through review faster than incomplete ones.
Soil and water table conditions vary widely across Onondaga County:
Real cost ranges for typical Onondaga County installations and repairs:
Septic System Installation covers: conventional gravity, pressure distribution, raised mound, drip dispersal, engineered/aerobic, and cesspool-to-septic conversion. We design and build to OCDOH and NYS DOH Appendix 75-A.
Septic Repair covers: line repair, D-Box repair/replacement, tank repair, pump replacement, leach field rehabilitation, sewer line camera inspection, and emergency response.
Leach Field Installation covers: conventional gravity field replacement, pressure distribution upgrade, mound conversion, drip dispersal for tight sites.
Owner-operated by Ron Starusnak. Same person diagnoses, estimates, and supervises every project. Calls answered directly: (315) 400-2654.
Direct working relationships with Onondaga County DOH inspectors. We know what each reviewer expects in submittals and what triggers re-review. Faster permits = faster work = less stress for you.
Excavation, septic, plumbing, and concrete are all in-house. One contractor, one accountability chain, no scheduling delays from waiting on other subs.
We install concrete septic tanks as our default. Concrete tanks last 40+ years in Onondaga County conditions, hold up to high water tables, and meet structural requirements for vehicle traffic.
We come to your property in Onondaga County, evaluate the site, discuss options, and provide a free written estimate. No upselling, no surprise charges.
Backwell maintains a 5.0-star rating on Google with reviews from Onondaga County customers across Syracuse, North Syracuse, Liverpool, Cicero, Camillus, Manlius, Skaneateles, and Baldwinsville.
Federally-designated Women-Owned Small Business. NY MWBE in process. $2M general liability insurance, workers' compensation, OSHA 30 certified, ISNetworld member.
Conventional 3-bedroom systems run $9,000–$14,000 in Onondaga County. 4-bedroom $11,000–$18,000. Pressure distribution $15,000–$25,000. Mound systems $20,000–$35,000. Final cost depends on soil conditions, system type, and site access.
Typically 2–4 weeks for conventional residential systems, longer for engineered systems. We submit complete applications to minimize re-review delays.
Yes. The Onondaga County Department of Health requires percolation testing for every new septic system and every full system replacement. Test holes are typically witnessed by an OCDOH inspector.
There's no fixed minimum lot size, but the lot must be large enough to accommodate: the system, a reserve area, all required setbacks (100 ft from wells, 50 ft from surface water, varying setbacks from property lines and structures). Many older small lots require mound or engineered systems.
Yes, but Skaneateles Lake watershed has additional setback and design requirements. Mound systems and pressure distribution are common in the watershed. Onondaga County DOH coordinates with the City of Syracuse Watershed Manager for approvals in the protected watershed.
High water table sites generally require either pressure distribution or a raised mound system. We evaluate the deep hole observation results to determine the right system for your specific site.
Yes. We've installed commercial systems for restaurants, churches, offices, and mixed-use buildings across Onondaga County. Commercial flows are calculated by NYS DOH Appendix 75-A Table 1 based on use type.
Yes. We've installed septic systems on tight infill lots, hillside properties, and difficult-access sites across the county. Specialized smaller equipment is available when access is constrained.
Common signs: slow drains, gurgling toilets, sewage odor outdoors, soggy soil over the field, sewage backup in the basement. If you see any of these, call (315) 400-2654 for diagnostic visit. See our Signs Your Septic Is Failing guide.
Cesspools are no longer code-compliant for new installation in NY. Existing cesspools must be replaced when the property sells or the system fails. We handle cesspool abandonment and septic system installation as one project. Typical cost $9,000–$18,000.
Last updated: April 2026
Get a free estimate: Call (315) 400-2654 or request an estimate online.
After Backwell completes site work on a commercial development or multi-family project, owners often need property management. RenPro Commercial Property Management is our sister company in Syracuse handling office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use buildings. Property managers can also try our software at RenPro.com. See our full network.