Since 1966, Sharpe’s Septic Tank & Well Drilling Service LLC has been the go-to provider for rural homeowners in the Gaston area who need both sides of their water system handled right. Located directly on Fish Hatchery Road in the heart of Lexington County’s Sandhills terrain, we understand that sandy soil creates unique challenges for both well water delivery and septic system drainage. If you live in Pine Ridge, South Congaree, Swansea, or Sandy Run, you’re dealing with fast-draining soil that requires proper well pump sizing and drainfield design—and we’ve been solving those problems for over five decades.
We’re not just a septic company that added wells as an afterthought, and we’re not a well driller who dabbles in septic. We’re a full-service operation that handles the water coming in and the wastewater going out. That means when your well pump fails on a Friday afternoon or your septic tank needs pumping before a holiday weekend, you’re calling one trusted team that knows your property’s complete water infrastructure. With our proximity to Columbia Metropolitan Airport and easy access throughout Lexington County, we respond quickly to both routine maintenance and emergency calls.
Integrated Well & Septic Solutions for Gaston Homeowners
Rural properties require specialized knowledge that goes beyond basic plumbing. The Sandhills region’s sandy soil affects everything from well yield to drainfield percolation rates. Here’s how we keep your entire water system functioning reliably:
- Septic Tank Pumping & Sludge Removal — In sandy soil like ours, the sludge layer builds up differently than in clay regions. We completely evacuate both the sludge layer at the bottom and the scum layer floating on top, protecting your drainfield from solids that could clog the laterals. For standard residential tanks, we recommend pumping every 3-4 years, though households with garbage disposals should pump every 2-3 years to prevent hydraulic overload.
- Well Drilling & Pump Installation — This is what sets us apart from septic-only contractors. We drill new wells, install submersible pumps, and handle pressure tank replacements. In Gaston’s Sandhills terrain, wells typically reach 150-300 feet to access consistent aquifers. We size pumps correctly for your household’s demand and ensure proper vertical separation between your well and septic drainfield (minimum 100 feet per South Carolina regulations).
- Well Pump Repair & Pressure System Maintenance — When you lose water pressure or hear your pump cycling constantly, we diagnose the entire system: pressure switches, pressure tanks, check valves, and the submersible pump itself. Sandy soil can cause sediment buildup in pressure tanks, reducing efficiency and shortening pump life. We handle complete troubleshooting and repairs, often same-day for emergencies.
- Grease Trap Cleaning & Commercial Service — Local restaurants and commercial kitchens in the Gaston-Swansea corridor rely on us for compliant grease trap maintenance. We remove accumulated fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that would otherwise solidify in your mainline or overload your septic system. For businesses, we provide documentation of proper disposal at licensed treatment facilities, keeping you compliant with South Carolina DHEC regulations.
- Real Estate Transfer Inspections — Buying or selling rural property? We perform comprehensive septic and well inspections similar to the CL-100 standard used in other states. We verify tank integrity, check the effluent filter, inspect the drainfield for signs of failure, test well water flow rates, and document system condition for lenders and buyers. Many rural property sales fall through because of undisclosed septic or well problems—we prevent those surprises.
- Effluent Filter Cleaning — The effluent filter is the “kidney” of your septic system, trapping solids before they reach the drainfield. In sandy soil where groundwater contamination risk is higher, a functioning filter is critical. We clean filters every 6 months to a year depending on household size, preventing the high water alarm that signals a clogged filter.
- Emergency Response for Both Systems — Septic backup on Christmas Eve? Well pump failure during a July heat wave when you’re hosting family? We understand that rural homes can’t simply connect to city water or sewer. We offer emergency dispatch for both septic and well crises, because we know that when either system fails, your home becomes unlivable fast.
Serving Gaston, Swansea, South Congaree, and the Sandy Run Corridor
We’re a fixture in the Gaston community, and our location on Fish Hatchery Road means we can reach homes throughout Lexington County quickly. Whether you’re in the established neighborhoods near Pine Ridge, the growing residential areas around South Congaree, the rural properties outside Swansea, or along the wooded roads of Sandy Run, we’ve likely serviced your neighbors’ properties. The Sandhills terrain that defines this region creates specific challenges: sandy soil drains quickly (good for septic fields but risky for groundwater), wells need to go deeper than in other parts of the state, and tree roots from pine and oak aggressively invade both water lines and septic laterals.
From Highway 321 south to the Congaree River corridor, and from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport area east toward Swansea, we cover the rural and semi-rural zones where septic systems and private wells are the only option. Many of our customers are on properties that were developed in the 1970s and 1980s, meaning septic systems may be undersized by modern standards and wells may have aging pump components. We help homeowners modernize both systems without the sticker shock of complete replacements—often, strategic upgrades like riser installation for easier septic access or pressure tank replacement for well efficiency solve problems at a fraction of the cost.
What makes Sharpe’s different from larger regional companies is simple: we handle both sides of your water infrastructure. You’re not coordinating between a septic contractor and a separate well driller when problems arise. You’re calling one team that understands how these systems interact in Sandhills soil, and we’ve been doing it since Lyndon Johnson was president. That continuity of service and local knowledge is something you can’t get from a franchise or a company that just arrived in the area.
Why the Midlands Has Relied on Sharpe’s for Over 50 Years
Established 1966 — A True Multi-Generational Operation — We’re not a startup trying to establish credibility. We’ve been serving Lexington County homeowners since before the Interstate highway system reached Gaston. That longevity means we’ve seen every type of septic failure and well problem that can occur in this region’s sandy terrain, and more importantly, we’ve developed the expertise to fix them efficiently. Many of our current customers are the children or grandchildren of our original clients—that’s the kind of trust you earn by doing the job right for half a century.
One-Stop Shop for Rural Homeowners — If you’re on well water and septic, you need a contractor who understands both systems and how they interact on your property. We’re the only operation in the area that handles septic pumping, drainfield repair, well drilling, pump installation, and emergency service for both systems. That integrated capability means faster response times, better diagnostics (we spot problems that single-focus contractors miss), and one trusted relationship instead of juggling multiple service providers.
Licensed for Both Septic & Well Services — In South Carolina, septic and well work require separate contractor licenses because the technical knowledge is so specialized. We hold both, which is rarer than you might think. Many septic companies will tell you to “call a well guy” when your pump fails, and well drillers will say “that’s a septic issue” when your drainfield shows stress. We diagnose and solve problems across your entire water infrastructure because we’re qualified—and equipped—to handle all of it.
Sandhills Soil Expertise — The sandy terrain from Gaston through Swansea and into the Congaree River bottomlands creates unique engineering challenges. Wells need deeper drilling to reach stable aquifers below the sand layers. Septic drainfields in sandy soil percolate quickly, which sounds good but actually increases groundwater contamination risk if the system isn’t designed with proper vertical separation. We’ve spent decades working in this specific geology, and that local knowledge prevents expensive mistakes that out-of-area contractors make.
Proper Disposal & Regulatory Compliance — When we pump your septic tank, the waste goes to licensed treatment facilities, not illegal dump sites. When we drill a well, we follow South Carolina DHEC regulations for casing depth, grouting, and separation from contamination sources. For commercial grease trap customers, we provide documentation that satisfies health inspectors. This isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about protecting groundwater quality in a region where everyone drinks from private wells. Cutting corners on disposal or well construction puts your neighbors’ water at risk, and we won’t do it.
Ready to Schedule Maintenance or Need Emergency Service?
Call Sharpe’s Septic Tank & Well Drilling Service at (803) 755-1615, or use the contact form on our website to request service. We respond to routine appointments throughout Lexington County and offer emergency dispatch for urgent septic backups or well failures.
For rural homeowners in Gaston, South Congaree, Swansea, and the surrounding Sandhills region, we’re the team that’s been keeping water flowing and waste systems functioning since 1966. One call handles both your well and septic needs—that’s efficiency you can count on.
