Who Repairs Septic Systems in Lumberton, NC?

The board that certifies installers and inspectors

Installer and inspector certification comes from the North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board, often shortened to NCOWCICB, under Chapter 90A, Article 5 of the General Statutes. The board's mailing address is PO Box 132, Lawsonville, NC 27022, and its phone is 336-202-3126.

The law is broad: "No person shall construct, install, or repair" an on-site system, or offer to, without certification at the level required for that system. There are exemptions. An owner may install a single septic tank with a gravity-fed gravel trench on their own land, for use by that person and their immediate family. The statute also exempts, among others, employees working under a certified contractor's direct supervision, certified operators doing maintenance, some licensed general contractors and plumbers, and health department staff.

Installer certification levels

The board's rule on installer grades, 21 NCAC 39 .0102, was readopted effective November 1, 2025. Its current application page lists two paths for new installers:

A Level IV applicant must have held Level II certification for two years and completed the board's advance class. So for a pumped, low-pressure or treatment system, ask whether the installer's certification covers that kind of work.

Inspector certifications

• Point of Sale Inspector. For inspections tied to a sale. The applicant must have held Grade Level IV installer, AOWE or subsurface operator certification for two years, or completed approved Grade IV education.
• Private Compliance Inspector. Requires a 36-hour class and five years of relevant experience, and the inspector may not be employed by a local health department.

Every applicant must pass an exam, and under the board's rule, certified inspectors may inspect all on-site systems covered by it. Septic inspections covers what a sale inspection includes.

The other people on a septic job

• Health department staff. In Robeson County, the environmental health staff do site and soil evaluations, issue permits, inspect systems before they're covered, and investigate complaints. Call 910-671-3200 or (910) 272-6560.
• Licensed soil scientist. Licensed under Chapter 89F; does private soil and site evaluations.
• Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator (AOWE). A licensed soil scientist who is also certified by the on-site board, and who may design systems that don't need an engineer.
• Professional engineer. Licensed under Chapter 89C; designs systems under the Engineered Option Permit.
• Certified operator. NC DEQ certifies water pollution control system operators. Types IV, V and VI systems need one under contract.
• Pump-out company. Needs a septage management permit from NCDEQ, with its trucks listed on the permit.

One more from NC REALTORS' buyer advisory: "Real estate agents are not licensed to do plumbing or septic inspections."

Who does which part of a repair

1. Finding the problem: a septic contractor or a certified inspector, with the tank pumped by a DEQ-permitted firm when it needs to be opened up.
2. Reporting it: the owner, who must contact the health department when a system malfunctions.
3. Soil and site evaluation: the county's environmental health staff, or a private engineer, soil scientist or AOWE if the owner chooses that route.
4. Permits: the Robeson County Health Department.
5. Building the repair: an installer certified at the level the system requires.
6. Inspection before cover: the health department, followed by the operation permit.
7. Ongoing operation, for Types IV to VI: a certified operator under contract.

Looking someone up

For installers and inspectors, use the board's Certification List; NCDHHS links the same list for homeowners looking for a certified septic installer or inspector. For pump-out companies, use NCDEQ's Find a Permitted Firm. For a state-certified subsurface system operator, NCDHHS points to DEQ's contract operator list. Check that the certification is current, that its level matches the job, and that the name matches the person or company on your estimate. Questions about a certification go to the board at 336-202-3126.

What to ask before anyone digs

• What failed, and what showed you that? Did you have the tank pumped to see inside?
• Is this a part replacement or a field repair? Have you asked the health department whether the part needs a permit?
• Will the county do the soil evaluation, or are you proposing a private engineer or AOWE? Why?
• What is your NCOWCICB certification level, and does it cover this type of system?
• Who files the paperwork with the health department, and who schedules the inspection before cover?
• Does the plan keep the field at least 50 feet from my well?
• If there's a notice of violation, can the work fit inside its deadline?
• For a pumped or treatment system: who will be the certified operator, and what will the contract cost?
• How will the yard be restored, and what warranty comes with the work?

What belongs in the written quote

• Each part of the work listed separately: tank, distribution box, drain lines, any pump, panel or treatment unit.
• Which county fees are included, such as the posted $100 repair evaluation or $600 new soil evaluation.
• Pumping, if the tank has to be emptied first, and by which permitted firm.
• Digging, fill, seed or sod, and how the yard will be left.
• When payments are due, when work starts, and how any changes the health department asks for will be handled.
• A written warranty.

Any agreement is between you and the contractor. Each contractor is responsible for their own licensing, insurance, permits, pricing and warranties.

Who this page isn't for

If you're on town sewer, problems in the public line are handled by the town, not a septic contractor. If you're not sure yet whether you have a problem, start with septic backing up.

Hiring questions

Which certification covers building a new drain field?

An installer certification from the on-site board at the level the system requires. A conventional gravel gravity system, or one with a single pump or siphon, falls under Level II; dual pumps and low-pressure dispersal need the higher grade that Level IV includes.

Who can inspect a septic system for a home sale?

A certified Point of Sale Inspector. Real estate agents aren't licensed to do septic inspections, according to NC REALTORS.

Does the county recommend septic contractors?

We didn't find a contractor list on the Robeson County Health Department's pages. The state board's Certification List is the place to check a contractor's certification.

Is a soil scientist the same as an installer?

No. A soil scientist is licensed under Chapter 89F to evaluate soil and sites; an installer is certified by the on-site board to build and repair systems. An AOWE is a soil scientist with an added board certification.

How the referral works

Your request is passed to a single independent septic contractor serving Robeson County. This site doesn't check certifications, so use the lookups above. The contractor sets the price; you pay nothing for the referral.