In 1979 Jim Nichols, a plastics-design consultant, looked out the window of his home and saw a homeowner’s worst nightmare; the ground was oozing and bubbling wastewater as a result of a failed septic system. He needed to replace part of his gravel and pipe leach field.

When the installation contractor came to replace his leach field he watched the process with a curious eye. When they finished up the leach field replacement Jim told to Sid Holbrook, the contractor, “We could probably come up with something better in plastic.” Sid agreed and told Jim when he was serious about it that he’d help him raise money to give it a try.

A few years later Jim approached Sid with the design for the Infiltrator chamber. Together, Jim and Sid sought out investors to finance manufacturing and testing of the Infiltrator chamber system and Infiltrator was born.

In 1987 Infiltrator Systems entered the market selling the Infiltrator chamber system as an alternative to the decades-old traditional gravel and pipe leach field. The key differentiator that the Infiltrator chamber system brought to the market was that contractors could install a complete system in half the time of a gravel and pipe leach field. Contractors quickly bought into the concept. For the first year in business they predicted a loss; instead Infiltrator Systems made an $80,000 profit, selling more than 30,000 Infiltrator chambers.

In 2015 Infiltrator Systems became Infiltrator Water Technologies to more accurately describe the company’s offerings beyond the onsite wastewater industry.

Today Infiltrator manufactures and sells multiple product lines for the onsite wastewater and water industry. With innovative products and service, ISO 9001 certified manufacturing facilities, leading creative recycling solutions and the development of new subsidiaries, Infiltrator is poised to offer a total approach to water quality. Our future lies in a global effort to identify and develop new technologies that improve water quality and wastewater management worldwide.

In 1979 Jim Nichols, a plastics-design consultant, looked out the window of his home and saw a homeowner’s worst nightmare; the ground was oozing and bubbling wastewater as a result of a failed septic system. He needed to replace part of his gravel and pipe leach field.

When the installation contractor came to replace his leach field he watched the process with a curious eye. When they finished up the leach field replacement Jim told to Sid Holbrook, the contractor, “We could probably come up with something better in plastic.” Sid agreed and told Jim when he was serious about it that he’d help him raise money to give it a try.

A few years later Jim approached Sid with the design for the Infiltrator chamber. Jim and his business partners, George Haines and Randy May, sought out investors to finance manufacturing and testing of the Infiltrator chamber system and Infiltrator was born

In 2018, Infiltrator expanded into the advanced wastewater treatment segment of the industry with the acquisition of Delta Environmental assets from Pentair Flow Technologies and has reestablished the Delta brand to Delta Treatment Systems, LLC. Delta Treatment Systems manufactures and sells products for residential and commercial advanced wastewater treatment including custom package treatment plants and ECOPOD and Whitewater models. Delta Treatment Systems was rebranded to become Infiltrator in 2024.

Infiltrator further expanded its reach in the onsite industry with the acquisition of Presby Environmental, Inc. (PEI) in April 2019. Based in Whitefield, NH, PEI manufactures combined wastewater treatment and dispersal systems. With this acquisition Infiltrator has increased its product offerings to include Advanced Enviro-Septic, Enviro-Septic and Simple Septic. Presby Environmental, Inc. was rebranded to become Infiltrator in 2024.

In 2019, Infiltrator was acquired by, and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS). ADS is a leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and ancillary products, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and superior drainage solutions for use in the construction and infrastructure marketplace. Both Infiltrator and ADS share a similar vision and values and remain committed to developing innovative, best-in-class products while maintaining a dedication to safety, operational excellence, and sustainability through our recycling activities. ADS is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol WMS.

Promoting Innovation, Continuous Improvement, Integrity, and Environmental Stewardship

We are devoted to creating the best possible product for our customers while minimizing waste and advocating for the use of recycled materials. We consistently endeavor to improve our products, and to create new ones that will provide valuable solutions for industry practitioners. Because we rely on recycled plastics for 95% of our materials, our products are both sustainable and more affordable for customers.

Revolutionary Products

With 140 granted or pending patents, Infiltrator has repeatedly shown its ability to successfully develop innovative offerings for the onsite wastewater treatment industry. Our Quick4 and Arc chambers and EZflow leachfield products are easier and faster to install than conventional stone and pipe wastewater dispersal systems. Infiltrator’s lightweight tanks offer exceptional strength comparable to concrete tanks, allow for easy storage and delivery, and are a revolutionary improvement in plastic tank design.

Environmental Stewardship

With a full range of wastewater treatment products, and a commitment to resource conservation, Infiltrator is a leader in environmental stewardship. We approach sustainability through recycling, promoting a safe and productive work environment, and making contributions to community development. Looking toward the future, we will continue developing new technologies that contribute globally to sustainable wastewater management.

Model IM-540 - Plastic Septic Tank Brochure