The Norwesco 1250 Gallon Two-Compartment Low Profile Septic Tank is built for sites where burial depth and clearance are the constraint. At 51 inches tall over a 60 by 157 inch footprint, this preplumbed two-compartment polyethylene tank fits shallow excavations and high-water-table installs where a standard-height septic tank will not go. It is molded in green polyethylene, carries IAPMO certification, and arrives preplumbed as a two-compartment tank, so you are setting a single low-profile unit rather than assembling a chambered system in the trench.
Will it work for your install
This is a 1250-gallon two-compartment septic tank, with the compartments separating primary settling from the second stage before discharge. The compartment volumes are shown on the technical drawing on this page rather than stated here, so confirm them against the drawing before you size a pump or dosing chamber. The drawing also shows a 20-inch access lid for pumping and the outlet; the outlet diameter and pipe-seal (grommet or gasket) detail live on that same drawing, so check both against your 3-inch or 4-inch DWV pipe before you set the tank. The low-profile geometry is the deciding factor here: a 51-inch height keeps the lid within reach of grade on shallow lots, but verify your outlet invert elevation against the drawing so the gravity fall through both compartments still works. If you are weighing one tank against two, the single compartment vs two compartment septic tank guide walks through when the second compartment earns its place.
IAPMO certification and code
IAPMO certification is what most plumbing-code jurisdictions and inspectors look for on a septic tank, and it is what distinguishes a code-acceptable tank from a generic poly cistern. Because Norwesco's approvals also extend across the border, the Norwesco IAPMO and CSA B66 septic approvals breakdown is worth reading if your project is in Canada or near it, since CSA B66 scope and US plumbing-code acceptance are not interchangeable. For field handling and procurement of the low-profile series specifically, the Norwesco low-profile series field guide covers the practical side. Verify with your local health department which listing they require before you order, because that single detail decides whether the tank passes inspection.
The mistake to avoid
The common error with a low-profile septic tank is treating burial like a deep-tank install. A 51-inch tank sits with less cover, so backfill, bedding, and ballast against buoyancy matter more, not less, particularly where the water table is high enough to have pushed you toward low profile in the first place. Follow Norwesco's installation instructions for bedding and water-fill ballast during backfill, and do not exceed their burial-depth limit. Size the job to the real numbers: a 60 by 157 inch footprint, 51 inches tall, and roughly 10,425 pounds full of water tells you the excavation, the bedding pad, and the lifting and placement equipment you need on the day of the set. The Tank Sizing Guide and Tank Sizing Calculator help you confirm 1250 gallons matches your daily flow and household size before you commit.
This tank ships LTL from whichever Norwesco plant is closer, Shawnee, OK or Washougal, WA, so a West-Coast install is not paying cross-country freight on a 157-inch tank where origin distance dominates the quote. Quote both origins against your ZIP with our Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will quote it and confirm IAPMO acceptance for your jurisdiction.
