Sewage Treatment

Environmental Health offers three different types of services with respect to onsite water well and sewage treatment system evaluations.

Mortgage or Condition Evaluation

This is the typical inspection performed for real estate transactions, bank financing requirements, demolition or catastrophic loss of existing dwelling and construction of a new home on the same parcel. This inspection is also appropriate for change of use for businesses and for existing homes in which additional bedrooms are being constructed.

This evaluation will assess the condition of an existing onsite sewage treatment system and/or onsite water supply system. The sewage treatment system will need to be opened prior to the inspection appointment. The opened system will be evaluated to determine how much of the system has been used and to determine if it is properly sized for current code requirements. The well will be evaluated for code compliance, including approved components and appropriate isolation from potential contamination sources. A water well evaluation will also require bacteria and nitrate water quality testing.

Property Upgrade Evaluation

This inspection is appropriate when there are additions to properties such as swimming pools, out buildings, and home and building additions. Note: if additional bedrooms are being added, an extensive condition evaluation should be performed.

This evaluation is performed to assess whether a proposed property modification will negatively impact an existing onsite sewage treatment and/or onsite water supply system. The evaluation will confirm if documented systems are properly sized and designed according to current codes. Isolation distances from proposed modifications to these systems will also be evaluated. Water sampling is not included with this evaluation.

Vacant Land Evaluation

This inspection is appropriate for land that has not yet been developed to assess suitability of the property for onsite sewage treatment and water well systems.

This evaluation of a vacant parcel of land will identify any limitations for a new onsite water supply or onsite sewage treatment system. Parcel size, topography, and soils will be assessed, and a determination of depth to high groundwater will be made. A backhoe/excavator excavation is required to be completed on-site with an EH member present. It will be the responsibility of the excavating machine operator to contact Miss Dig for utility staking. Area water well data will be compiled and shared on the final report including water quality of nearby wells and water quantity and potential contamination issues.