Name and title or job description: Craig and Marissa Smith, owners
Business name and location: S&S Septic Services, Lula, Georgia
Services we offer: S&S Septic Services provides septic pumping, septic system installation, inspections and repairs. S&S Septic Services combines family ownership, hands-on experience and a commitment to continuing education to provide reliable service to the community. Our dedication to both customers and employees has helped us build a strong reputation across Northeast Georgia.
Age: Craig Smith, 37; Marissa, 38
Years in the industry: Craig has been involved in the industry all his life, as he is the third generation in the septic industry. In 2019, Marissa joined the business full time, and Craig and Marissa officially became owners.
Association involvement: S&S Septic Services is an active member of the Georgia Onsite Wastewater Association, Georgia Rural Water Association and Southeastern FOG Alliance. The company is a Georgia Department of Public Health-approved septic pumper and installer.
Benefits of belonging to the association: Being involved in these associations allows us to continue our professional education, stay informed on industry events and legislation, learn about cutting-edge technology and best practices, and maintain high standards of service for customers.
Biggest issue facing your association right now:
Craig: The industry as a whole is dealing with increasing costs of operation.
Marissa: Consumer knowledge levels continue to decline. Many people know less and less about septic systems and plumbing.
Our crew includes: Craig and Marissa credit their success to their outstanding crew. Craig’s grandfather Carl Smith founded S&S Septic. Later, Craig’s father, Jeff Smith, and Craig’s uncle, Jay Smith, operated the business. Jeff still works at S&S and has been a major influence on Craig’s path into the industry. In 2019, Craig and Marissa purchased the company, carrying the family legacy forward.
Working alongside the owners are two great project managers, Joseph Headrick and David Bennett. Rounding out the company is an awesome field of technicians, pumpers and office staff who keep operations running smoothly every day.
Typical day on the job: We start each day with a morning team meeting to get crews organized, routes confirmed and priorities set. From there, the day moves fast. We stay busy monitoring job status, updating customers, handling collections, coordinating schedules and ensuring all regulatory compliance requirements are met. It’s a full-time job!
The job I’ll never forget: One unforgettable call involved a million-dollar home where the septic system reportedly had never been serviced. The homeowners had no idea where the tank was located. After searching the property, we discovered the owners had installed a putting green directly over the septic system.
My favorite piece of equipment:
Marissa: My phone. I cannot function without it. It’s S&S’s lifeline.
Craig: The T&T Hammer Probe. It’s a game-changer and in a class of its own when it comes to probes.
Most challenging site I’ve worked on: One of the toughest projects we worked on was at Black Rock Mountain State Park in Georgia. The site featured an almost vertical incline. Conditions were so steep the crew had to chain equipment to trees and boulders to keep it secure. It was nuts.
Oops, this didn’t work out as planned: We recently had a customer who had no idea that a drainfield repair would require excavation and digging. That misunderstanding made for an interesting day and highlighted the importance of customer education.
The craziest question or most insightful comment from a customer: I know it’s not to code, but can you please sign off anyway?
If I could change one industry regulation, it would be: We believe Georgia is generally fair, from a regulatory standpoint, but waste disposal continues to become more expensive and more difficult. We would like to see additional resources and options for responsible disposal methods, including expanded land application opportunities and practical solutions that help contractors operate safely and efficiently.
Best piece of small-business advice I’ve heard or came up with:
Marissa: “Trust, but verify.” This Russian proverb later made famous in the United States by Ronald Reagan applies to everything in business. Is the customer legitimate? Did the part actually arrive? Is the equipment truly ready to run? Confidence is important, but verification prevents expensive mistakes.
Craig: “Never stop selling,” and Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I believe growth requires consistency, relationships and always being willing to promote your service and value.
If I wasn’t working in the wastewater industry, I would like to:
Marissa: Travel … exclusively travel.
Craig: I’d be a pilot.
Crystal ball time – This is my outlook for the wastewater industry:
We see the future in two parts:
Continued Growth
The septic industry will continue to expand, especially as population growth drives more single-family home construction and development in areas not served by sewer systems.
Increasing Challenges
As awareness grows around PFAS forever chemicals, microplastics and environmental liability, waste disposal will likely become more regulated and more expensive. We believe municipalities and governments will face increasing pressure to manage risk, which means disposal costs and compliance expectations are likely to continue rising.
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