Ophir, CA
California’s First Hoot Installation
Solid rock. No leach field. No conventional option. The system that started it all — and is still running today, nearly two decades later.
A family built their dream home in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Placer County, only to discover their lot sat on solid granite rock. Their original septic plan relied on a leach field on a neighboring property — but when that neighbor sold and rescinded the easement agreement, the newly built home had no viable septic solution. Without a compliant system, the house was uninhabitable.
Placer County Environmental Health had recently approved the Hoot Aerobic Treatment System for experimental use. Septic designer Jim Barnard proposed a Hoot H-600 single-tank system paired with Geoflow drip tubing — dramatically reducing the required dispersal footprint. The new design fit within the available easement, allowing the neighbor to still build his barn while the homeowners finally moved into their home.
This was the first Hoot system installed in California — and it is still running today, nearly two decades later. It established Superior On-Site Solutions as California’s Hoot authority and demonstrated that the system could perform reliably in the state’s most challenging conditions. Every Hoot installation in California since 2007 traces back to this project.
Before, During & After
The Project That Started It All
Before 2007, there was no Hoot system in California. Placer County’s experimental approval of the technology was a leap of faith — and the Ophir installation proved that faith was well placed. The system achieved 98% CBOD and 99% TSS reduction in conditions where no conventional system could operate.
Today, Superior On-Site Solutions has installed Hoot systems in 24+ California counties. Every one of those projects is possible because this first installation worked — and kept working. If you have a site that’s been told it can’t support a conventional septic system, this is exactly the kind of challenge we were built for.
Still running after 17+ years. The Ophir system has required only routine O&M service since its 2007 installation — a testament to the durability and reliability of Hoot advanced treatment technology.
Have a Challenging Site?
If your property has been told “no” by other septic companies, call us. We’ve heard that before — and we’ve found a way forward every time.