The Norwesco 500 Gallon One Compartment Septic Tank is a low-profile polyethylene tank built for shallow burial and tight access, where a taller tank simply will not fit. At 42 inches tall on a 48 by 97 inch footprint, it tucks into a slim excavation while holding a full 500 gallons. The green polyethylene body is engineered for below-grade septic and low-profile hauling work, and this listing covers the one-compartment configuration.
Will it work for your install?
This is a 500 gallon, one-compartment unit measuring 42 in high, 48 in wide, and 97 in long. The low profile design is the reason most people choose it, and the geometry is a deliberate trade: you accept a long 97 in footprint to keep the bury depth shallow at 42 in tall, where a standard upright septic tank runs too high for shallow ground, trailers, and service bodies. Filled with water it weighs roughly 4,170 lb, and that full-water figure matters in two places. It is the transport and lift weight you plan equipment around, and it is the uniform load your bedding must carry, spread across the 48.0 x 97.0 in plan area rather than concentrated like a tall upright. Prepare a level, well-compacted base under the entire footprint. If you are sizing for a specific household or flow, run the numbers through the Tank Sizing Calculator and read the Tank Sizing Guide first. Because septic approvals and burial requirements vary by jurisdiction, confirm what your county or province requires before you set this tank.
Approvals and cross-border use
Norwesco low-profile septic tanks carry approvals that differ between US plumbing codes and Canadian requirements, so the same tank is not automatically accepted everywhere. If your project touches the border or you are specifying to a Canadian code, our guide on Norwesco IAPMO and CSA B66 Septic Tank Approvals walks through the cross-border scope. For crews running these as low-profile hauling tanks rather than buried septic, the Norwesco Low-Profile Hauling Tank Series field operations and procurement guide covers compliance and field handling.
The mistake to avoid
The most common error on a low-profile septic tank is treating the height as flexible. Buyers fixated on the 500 gallon capacity sometimes order without checking that the fixed 42 in height and 97 in length actually fit the planned bury depth, the inlet and outlet invert elevations, and the access path. Verify your invert elevations and cover requirements against this tank's 42 in height before you dig. Also confirm the one-compartment layout matches what your design or permit calls for, since some installs require a two-compartment or multi-tank arrangement. Check the technical drawing on this page for inlet, outlet, and lid locations before finalizing your plumbing.
This Norwesco 500 gallon low profile septic tank ships LTL, with freight quoted live to your ZIP from the nearest stocking origin. Norwesco fills these orders from several locations, including Hanford, CA; Owego, NY; Shawnee, OK; and Lancaster, OH, so a buyer in Texas, Arkansas, or West Virginia may have a closer origin than the city nearest the factory. Get a real number with the Freight Cost Estimator, or call 866-418-1777 and we will work out the closest origin and best routing for your delivery.
