How AI Is Changing the Septic Industry - Lessons from My Talk at the NOWRA Conference
Dominate Your Local Market: AI Strategies for Septic & Wastewater Businesses
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking at the NOWRA Mega Conference in Ohio, sharing one of the most important topics shaping our industry right now:
“How to Use AI and Digital Marketing to Dominate Your Local Market.”
The crowd was packed with septic professionals — installers, pumpers, engineers, manufacturers — all facing the same challenge: How do you grow faster without adding more chaos, more staff, or more hours?
And that’s exactly where AI and automation come in.
The Reality for Septic & Wastewater Contractors
Most contractors are feeling the squeeze right now:
Competition’s growing in nearly every market.
Homeowners expect instant replies and easy scheduling.
And missed calls? They don’t just mean missed conversations — they mean missed revenue.
During my talk, I shared how the companies dominating today aren’t necessarily the biggest — they’re the ones who respond faster, qualify better, and schedule more jobs automatically.
The Opportunity with AI
AI isn’t replacing your crew — it’s replacing your missed opportunities.
Imagine a system that:
Replies to every lead within seconds (not hours)
Qualifies the job automatically (location, urgency, service type)
Books the appointment directly into your calendar
Sends reminders so customers actually show up
That’s not a dream anymore — that’s what’s working for top septic companies right now.
Voice AI: The 60-Second Callback
I shared real examples of how AI-powered phone callbacks are changing the game.
When a lead calls and you can’t answer, your AI can call them back within 60 seconds — confirm what service they need, check your calendar, and book the job.
Companies using Voice AI are seeing up to 78% higher conversion rates — because they simply get to the lead first.
Chatbots & SMS: 24/7 Engagement
Whether it’s a Facebook ad, your website, or a Google lead form — AI can greet your customers instantly.
Chatbots and automated text follow-ups mean your business stays responsive, even when you’re out on a job site.
The days of “I’ll call them back after lunch” are gone.
AI keeps your brand online, available, and booking around the clock.
Efficiency That Scales
One of the most impactful slides from the presentation showed the difference between two contractors:
Before AI: 30 manual calls per week, constant follow-ups, and missed leads.
After AI: 8 highly qualified conversations — because the system pre-screens and schedules only the real buyers.
It’s not about doing more — it’s about doing what matters, better and faster.
The Future Is Here
The adoption of AI in service-based businesses is doubling every year.
The contractors who move first — who systemize follow-up, automate responses, and build smarter marketing foundations — will own their local markets over the next decade.
As I told the crowd in Ohio:
“It’s not the hardest worker who wins anymore — it’s the one who builds a business that works hard for them.”
Ready to See It in Action?
If you missed my session at NOWRA, you can download the AI Appointment Booking Playbook for Septic Pros — it breaks down the exact tools, automations, and templates we’re using to help contractors scale.
