Clearwater Recovery - Your Massachusetts Septic System & Title 5 Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any special Laws that regulate septic systems?

Why would I need a service provider. What do they do?

What happens if your system doesn't meet inspection criteria?

How much do Inspections cost?

How often should I have my septic system pumped?

What is septic system failure?

What are the signs of a failing system?

What are the costs associated with repairing and replacing septic systems?

What is the process for replacing a septic system?

What is the process for installing a septic system?

What does an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) agreement entail?

Q: Are there any special Laws that regulate septic systems?
(From www.septic-info.com)

Yes! In years past, septic systems were subject to very little regulatory oversight. Then in 1972, with the passage of what became known as the Clean Water Act, improperly treated wastewater from failing septic systems was identified as a key type of nonpoint (diffuse) pollution. Between then and now, the EPA has worked to develop guidelines for onsite wastewater treatment (septic system) management, and state governments and local authorities have been charged with implementing programs and regulations appropriate to their areas.

Today, septic system regulations vary significantly on a state-by-state basis, and among towns and counties within states. This is because the federal government (through the EPA) does not mandate specific measures states and local authorities must adopt, but rather sets acceptable pollutant levels and pollutant reduction goals, and lays out voluntary guidelines for reaching these through better management on a state and local level. To find out what the regulations are in your area, contact your local health board and your state environmental department. Your town or county may also have a dedicated wastewater management program.

Federal
• The Clean Water Act (1972, 1977) identified failing septic systems as a significant source of nonpoint pollution.
• Congress amended the Clean Water Act 1987 to establish a section devoted to Nonpoint Source Management, in recognition of the need for more federal leadership to better focus state and local nonpoint source pollution control efforts. Under this new section, states, territories and tribes could receive grant money to support technical and financial assistance, education/training, technology transfer, demonstrations and monitoring relevant to their nonpoint source management programs.
• In 1997, the EPA issued its Response to Congress on the Use of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems. This document outlined the benefits of onsite wastewater treatment and suggested ways in which management of these systems could be improved.

State
At the state level, septic systems are typically regulated by state environmental/natural resource departments. Many states have passed laws that specifically address septic systems, mandating:
• Minimum technical standards. States may, for example, specify septic system siting and construction requirements and establish minimum depth of groundwater, minimum distances from water sources and maximum percolation rates for soils for leachfields and alternative systems. States also identify those alternatives to conventional gravity-flow septic systems that may be installed in the case of system failure or substandard site conditions.
• Disclosure at property transfer. Many states require that homeowners have their septic systems inspected before the sale/title transfer of their house. States may also require an inspection when the "footprint" of the house is altered (e.g., a new bedroom is built). Inspection criteria and certification of inspectors (see below) may be established at the state level.
• Licensing of all septic professionals (designers/engineers, installers, pumpers, inspectors). States are increasingly licensing septic professionals (through training and formal applications), and providing training programs for county-level officials responsible for enforcement of licensing and other septic regulations.

Local
Local areas must comply with and enforce state law, but may enact their own more stringent regulations in response to local conditions and requirements. So it is critical that you as a homeowner find out the regulations that govern septic systems in your particular community. You can do so by contacting your local board of health, and, if one exists in your community, your local wastewater management program.

Typically, local authorities have primary or sole oversight responsibility for individual household septic systems. This oversight includes issuing septic permits for new and replacement systems and regulating care and maintenance (e.g., by mandating inspections and/or pumpings). Larger septic systems (e.g., commercial systems, systems shared by multiple houses) may be regulated jointly by state and local authorities, or may be regulated at the state level alone, e.g., by the state's department of the environment.

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Q: Why would I need a service provider. What do they do?
(From www.septic-info.com)
While your everyday activities are a critical part of caring for and maintaining your septic system, you will also require the services of licensed septic service professionals for key aspects of septic maintenance as well as new septic installation (likewise for the repair of a failed system).

Inspecting Your Septic System
Septic system inspections are necessary to assess the current condition of your system, uncover potential or emerging problems and predict future system performance. Inspections should be performed by a licensed septic inspector (your local health board and/or state department of the environment can refer you to licensed inspectors in your area).

When to have your system inspected
Many states mandate an inspection in the following situations:
• Completion of construction of a new septic system
• Sale of a house, inheritance of a house or transfer of property title
• Insolvency procedures (e.g., bankruptcy, foreclosure)
• Expansion of a house (e.g., addition of bedroom)
• Conversion of a house from residential to commercial use
Note that if you are buying a new house you will definitely want to have the septic system inspected, to avoid have a failing system on your hands shortly after move-in! Smart buyers will make sure a licensed inspector or local health board official inspects the septic system at their new home. Buyers should also consider taking the following steps before closing:
• Obtaining records on the system from the county health department
• Talking with neighbors and/or the inspector about the condition of septic systems in the area
• Checking for signs of septic failure (e.g., ponding, wet spots, patches of lush grass, odors)
• Talking with the seller about how the system has been maintained

Beyond homebuying/selling and other legally mandated inspections, most septic experts recommend that septic owners have regular maintenance inspections of their septic system. (Note that in some communities, such maintenance inspections may in fact be required by local law.) Maintenance inspections should be scheduled every 1-3 years. For newer septic systems, an inspection may or may not include a pump out of your septic tank (depending on inspection frequency and your household's usage habits); however, older and substandard systems should receive a tank pump out as part of the inspection.

What an inspection entails
Here is what a thorough maintenance inspection should include:

• Background research: Prior to visiting your property, your inspector should gather all relevant documents, including local permits and your property's soil survey, and should have reviewed your local septic code (since septic regulations can vary from local area to local area). Based on this research (and/or the homeowner interview, below), the inspector can determine important information like the age of your septic system and its maintenance/inspection record. This forms the background tableau for subsequent on-site evaluation.
• Homeowner interview: This is especially important if you have an older system and/or documents pertaining to your system are unavailable for review. The purpose of this interview is to glean information about everyday practices that affect septic system performance as well as care and maintenance habits/history. For example, the homeowner interview may be used to estimate daily wastewater flows, a critical factor in septic system functioning.
• Inspection of septic tank: Your inspector should physically inspect your septic tank (this may mean locating and unearthing the septic tank cover). This inspection will yield information about the tank's condition and performance. Specifically, your inspector should:

1. measure and record the scum and sludge levels (which will determine when you need your tank pumped)

2. (in some cases) pump out your septic tank

3. check the baffles in your tank (properly functioning baffles are critical to ensuring that solids are not exiting your tank and being carried over to your leachfield)

4. evaluate the integrity of the tank, by checking for any cracks, leaks, infiltration, etc.

5. assess the tank's construction and installation (poor construction and installation may flag certain sensitivities/future problems).
• Inspection of leachfield: This is a visual inspection of your soil absorption system in which the inspector checks for: 1. signs of system failure (odors, mushy spots, surfacing effluent), 2. surface water (indicative of poor siting), 3. proper effluent distribution, 4. existence of potentially harmful trees/shrubs in the leachfield vicinity, or other leachfield hazards (e.g., heavy equipment, patios, blacktopped areas, etc.).
In certain special cases (e.g., if the number of household occupants has recently increased significantly), inspectors may recommend a hydraulic load test in addition to the above non-invasive visual inspection. The hydraulic load test evaluates how well the septic system handles wastewater by introducing and tracking a flow of water through the system.
After the inspection is complete, your inspector will write up an inspection report. You as the homeowner should receive a copy of this report, and the report will also be filed with the local board of health, typically within a specified period of time from the inspection (e.g., 30 days).

What happens if your system doesn't meet inspection criteria?
(From www.septic-info.com)

If your system conditionally passes the inspection (i.e., a component needs to be replaced) or fails to meet inspection criteria, the inspection report filed with your local board of health will reflect this. You will typically have two years to repair or upgrade your system. In many states, some form of financing for repairs and upgrades is available.

How much do Inspections cost?
(From www.septic-info.com)
The inspection costs vary from location to location, but a comprehensive visual inspection typically costs around $300.

How often should I have my septic system pumped?
(From www.septic-info.com)
All septic tanks need to be pumped out on a regular basis. Pumping is essential to maintaining a well-functioning system and preventing premature system failure. To understand why, consider what your septic tank does. Your tank's function is to separate solids from liquid flows, and allow only clarified liquid wastewater (after at least 24 hours of settling time) to discharge into your leachfield for final treatment and absorption. Solids are retained in the tank, where heavy solids form the bottom (sludge) layer and lighter solids (e.g., bits of paper, grease and soapsuds) make up the top (scum) layer. While up to 50% of your tank's solids decompose, the remainder simply accumulate.

These accumulated solids can be safely and reliably removed only through regular pumping. Septic system additives will not accelerate decomposition and some (e.g., chemical additives, degreasers) may even wreak havoc on your system and the environment. In the absence of removing solids build-up, your tank's ability to clarify wastewater will be seriously compromised: liquid will not stay in your tank long enough to receive proper treatment, and, over time, carried-over particulate solids will clog your leachfield and cause it to fail.

As tempting as it may be (!), don't consider pumping your septic tank yourself! Pumping should be carried out by a licensed pumper with the proper equipment. Although it is imperative that the actual pumping be left to an experienced, licensed septic professional, there are several important things relevant to pumping that you as the homeowner can (and should) handle. These are as follows:

1. Determine how often your tank needs to be pumped and set a maintenance schedule based on pumping frequency. The frequency required is generally based upon the tank's size and the number of people living in your household. Use of a garbage disposal is one such factor that has a dramatic impact on pumping frequency. Garbage disposals can deposit significant amounts of undigested solids into your septic tank, increasing scum accumulation by as much as 20%.
2. Locate and contact licensed pumpers in your town or county
3. Determine average pumping costs in your area and comparison shop--but don't use cost as your sole criteria
4. Understand the basics of what a pumper does, and where your pumped-out solids end up, so that you can be a knowledgeable and environmentally aware customer!

Substandard septic tanks (e.g., metal tanks, tanks with capacity below the now-standard 1,000 gallons) should be pumped out every 1-3 years. Use our pumping frequency calculator to determine how frequently your tank needs pumping, based on your household's specific habits!

Of course, our calculator is intended as a rule-of-thumb for your household. A certified septic inspector can advise you on a pumping schedule for your tank in the context of a comprehensive inspection of your system. This individual's professional judgment is your best guide!
You may live in a town or county with a strong wastewater management program that mandates pumping frequency minimums (e.g., every four years). Proof of your compliance will be the inspection form your pumper is required to remit to the town/county health board or wastewater management office. Of course, your particular tank may require more frequent pumping than the law requires.

2. Locating Licensed Pumpers
Most states have enacted laws that require all septic professionals, including pumpers, to obtain licenses. Licensing requirements vary, but generally involve training courses and/or licensing exams in addition to a detailed application and an annual license fee. Individual counties, townships, municipalities, etc. issue licenses and oversee compliance/renewal.

You can locate a licensed pumper in your state or local area by contacting your state's department of environmental protection/management, or your local board of health or wastewater management office. You can also look in the yellow pages under "Septic Pumper/Cleaner." You will want to check out the pumper's license status with the appropriate environment/health departments mentioned above.

3. Pumping Costs
Pumping costs will vary depending on the size of your tank and how much time has passed since your last pump out. The pumper's transportation and disposal costs, variable by state and region, will also be a factor. Pumping costs may be anywhere between $100-250 (depending on your location), but are generally around $150. By all means, comparison shop, but resist the temptation to simply go with the lowest cost pumper. It is essential that the job be done thoroughly and safely, and that the pumped-out material be disposed of properly.
You may be able to lower pumping costs by coordinating with neighbors to schedule a "pumping day" where a licensed pumper comes to your area and pumps out the septic tanks of several residences in your neighborhood.

4. What a Pumper Does
Your pumper should completely clean out your septic tank, and safely and legally dispose of the pumped-out wastes. Pumping must be done through the maintenance hole (generally the middle one), not through the small inspection holes. Your pumper must remove all materials from your tank, backflush it to clean it and then verify that the tank is watertight and the tank baffles are in place. Your pumper should haul the materials to an authorized disposal area (disclosed in his/her licensing application) where the septage remains at a safe distance from surface water and human activity. Finally, your pumper should prepare a pumping report for your homeowner files, your local health department/wastewater management board and his/her own files

Operations and Maintenance Contracts For Alternative Systems
If you have an alternative system, chances are you have a maintenance contract! Many localities now mandate maintenance contracts for alternative systems (e.g., fine bubble aerators, recirculating and intermittent sand filters and low-pressure pipe systems). These contracts require regular inspections (e.g., four times per year in the case of fine bubble aeration systems; twice a year for low-pressure systems) by a state-licensed septic operator, who maintains and tests systems, and periodically reports results to the local authority. Even if your locality does not require a maintenance contract for your alternative system, most experts strongly advise homeowners to purchase one, in view of these systems' greater maintenance needs.

Alternative system installations often come with a two-year maintenance contract between the installer and homeowner. Thereafter, homeowners may be required to continue maintenance contract coverage of their alternative system by signing an agreement with a licensed septic operator. Community wastewater management programs may have a "short list" of septic operators that they provide to homeowners. In local areas without such programs, you can find a licensed operator in the phone book, via your local health board or state environmental department or by contacting your alternative system manufacturer for referrals to qualified inspectors in your area.

In some communities, homeowners have the option of taking training courses to learn how to perform inspections and maintenance for alternative systems themselves. Most homeowners opt for maintenance contracts instead. Yearly maintenance contracts for alternative systems generally cost between $300-$600, though costs may be higher depending on the individual system.

Finally, a word about telemetry. Broadly, telemetry is a technology used to measure and transmit data from remote locations to a central receiving location where data is recorded and analyzed. Applied to alternative systems, telemetry allows septic operators to monitor the flow, switches, pumps, floats and alarms of remote, scattered systems, and thereby be alerted to developing problems. System monitoring via telemetry may be part of your maintenance contract, although telemetry is more often a feature of maintenance contracts between community systems (i.e., alternative systems serving multiple members of a community) or large flow systems (e.g., schools, commercial establishments) and their designated licensed septic operator.

For Conventional Septic Systems
Mandated maintenance contract coverage of conventional septic systems remains relatively rare. However, as states and communities that rely heavily on onsite wastewater treatment confront problems caused by improper system care and maintenance, maintenance contracts are increasingly being put forth as part of the regulatory solution.

Establishing a maintenance contract with a licensed septic operator is in fact a very good idea for owners of conventional septic systems. Maintenance contracts ensure annual septic inspections, and scheduled (e.g., every 2-3 years) pumpings. Both of these maintenance practices are key to your system's proper functioning and longevity.

In the absence of a maintenance contract, homeowners should at least keep a maintenance record that both reminds them of when inspections and pumpings should be scheduled, and provides information that can prove helpful for septic inspectors/pumpers in diagnosing any system problems when they occur.

Repairing or Replacing a Failed System
A failed septic system is a big deal! It poses serious health and environmental hazards, and is costly to replace. You can very effectively guard against premature failure of a properly designed/sited system through simple daily care and regular pumping.

However, if you suspect your septic system is failing, you should contact your local board of health immediately to have it checked out. And if your system does need to be repaired--or replaced--you will require the services of an engineer and licensed septic installer.

While regular septic inspections can help you uncover problems with your system and allow you to take swift corrective action, a responsible septic owner is always alert to the signs of possible septic failure.

What is septic system failure?
(From www.septic-info.com)
A septic system is said to have failed when it no longer fulfills its function of absorbing and treating wastewater from your home. When this occurs, wastewater may back up in your yard, or (less obviously but cause for equal concern) may contaminate your well water and nearby surface waters with pathogens and nutrients (e.g., phosphorous, nitrogen).

Most leachfields have a design life of 20-30 years, at the end of which their soils are simply too clogged to accept wastewater for treatment. This clogging can happen prematurely if, for example, high amounts of solids are consistently carried over from your septic tank to your leachfield (e.g., you haven't pumped your septic tank for years and/or you consistently overload your system). While improper care and maintenance is by far the leading cause of septic system failure, poor design and siting can also be a factor: perhaps your leachfield was sized too small for your household, or the soils are poorly drained. Common cause of septic system failure include:

• Placement in poor drainage area (e.g., soils are saturated by stormwater)
• Failure to install according to septic codes
• Hydraulic overloading (e.g., your household's daily wastewater flows exceed the amount of flow your system was designed to handle)
• Bad household habits such as: pouring kitchen grease into drains, flushing inorganic materials (diapers, cigarettes) down the toilet
• Frequent use of a garbage disposal
• Tree roots clogging chambers or pipes in leachfield
• Crushed chambers or pipes as a result of heavy machinery on leachfield, excavation activity, etc.

What are the signs of a failing system?
(From www.septic-info.com)
The following signs are not definitive proof of a failing system, but they are cause for serious concern--and prompt action. You should call your local health board immediately if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Gurgling sounds in your pipes or drains
• Sewage backup in your drains or toilets
• Pooled or seeping liquid in your back yard; mushy spots
• Lush green grass in portions of your back yard (i.e., over your leachfield) even during dry weather (This may indicate that an excessive amount of liquid from your system is moving up through the soil rather than downward, as it should)
• The presence of nitrates or bacteria in your well water (as determined by a water test from your local health department)
• Buildup of aquatic weeds or algae in lakes or ponds adjacent to your home
• Unpleasant odors around your house
• Unpleasant odors outdoors

If you suspect a problem with your septic system, you can use our Septic Diagnostic Tool to learn more about what might be happening. Please note that this tool is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed septic professional, whose experience and on-site evaluation of your problem should be your guide for action in all cases!

What are the costs associated with repairing and replacing septic systems?
(From www.septic-info.com)

The cost of septic repair can vary widely, depending on what work your system requires. Financing for the repair, upgrade or replacement of your septic system may be available in the form of: a tax credit from your state (e.g., to defray a portion of the repair/replacement cost), a low-interest loan (e.g., 3%) available from your state department of the environment in partnership with select lenders, a grant from the Rural Water Authority or other federal or state agencies and/or other financing options you should talk to your state wastewater authority about.

What is the process for replacing a septic system?
(From www.septic-info.com)

As with the installation of a new septic system, replacement of your failed septic system will require that you have a site evaluation, obtain a septic permit and hire a licensed contractor to build your system according to the plan approved by your local health board.

In the best case scenario, your original system will have been designed with space for an identified replacement field, a piece of ground in your yard suitable for the building of another leachfield. (If you have a replacement field, you will still need to have a site evaluation, obtain a septic permit, etc.) However, depending on your particular property and situation, and local/state regulations, you may not be able to replace a failed septic system with another conventional onsite system. Instead, your inspectors and sanitation engineers may recommend alternative treatment options, ranging from the installation of a pretreatment aerobic treatment unit to a mound system, recirculating or intermittent sand filter or other alternative treatment system used in conjunction with leachfield disposal

Installing Your New Septic System
There are two events that will require the installation of a new septic system:

• You are building a house in an area not served by a municipal sewer system
• Your existing septic system has failed, and local health authorities have determined that installing a replacement system is the only way you can meet state and local health and environmental codes over the long term.

Building a house
Even if you are not deeply involved in the construction of your new home, it is worthwhile to understand the process by which septic systems get sited, designed, permitted and installed. Asking (the right!) questions of your engineers, county inspectors, system designers and installers will give you some assurance that your septic system will meet the requirements of your property (e.g., its slope, soil permeability, groundwater level, proximity to surface water/wetlands) and the demands your household can reasonably be expected to place upon it. This is critical because poorly sited/designed systems will be prone to early failure, notwithstanding good maintenance practices. On the other hand, a well sited and designed system that receives proper care and maintenance will safely and cost-effectively treat your home's wastewater for 20 or 30 years!

Replacing a failed system
If your septic system has failed, your local board of health will require that you repair it (if possible) or replace it altogether. Learn more about why septic systems fail, what the warning signs are and what you should do if you suspect your system is failing. The installation of your replacement system will resemble the installation of a new system in most particulars.

What is the process for installing a septic system?
(From www.septic-info.com)

The following broadly-defined steps delineate how the installation process typically unfolds. Keep in mind that your state and local regulations may differ somewhat!

Step 1: Site Evaluation. A professional engineer performs a pit test and a percolation test to determine soil characteristics of your site (which will become design parameters for your septic system). For the pit test, several "observation holes" are dug with a backhoe, to a depth of around seven feet. The engineer observes and records soil layers, color and texture, and notes the depth of groundwater. For the percolation test, water is poured into a "presoaked" hole of 6-12 inches, and the percolation rate (rate at which water level in the hole decreases as water is absorbed) is recorded. The size of the septic system to be built is determined in part by this "perc rate" together with the number of bedrooms in a home, or, for commercial systems, projected estimates of daily water usage.

Other site characteristics that will be evaluated include: the size of your property, the grade (steepness) of your site, the location of your proposed system relative to surface water and wells and the availability of suitable land for a replacement leachfield.

Step 2: Permit Application. You (or your builder or septic contractor) apply for a septic permit. The permit application may include some or all of the following:

• Properly completed application forms
• Results of the site evaluation performed by a licensed professional engineer, sanitarian or installer
• A plan of the property showing the residence/establishment, driveway, water wells, water lines, on-site sewage facility and other permanent improvements
• A floor plan identifying rooms and closets, with dimensions and total (heated) square footage of the residence/establishment
• One or more plans for the proposed design of the septic system
• A map showing the property location (if it is not in a subdivision)
• If the facility is being modified, a reason for and description of the modification (e.g., expanding system to accommodate addition of bedrooms)
• Floodplain compliance letter/certificate
• Identification of a permanently reserved replacement/secondary leachfield area to be used in the event of system failure
• The required fee
• Any additional information the board of health requires

Step 3: Acceptance or Modification of Permit. Your local board of health will review your septic permit application and determine whether to grant approval for construction of the system in accordance with the plans submitted, or whether modifications in the proposed system design are needed. In some cases, the board of health may recommend or require an alternative system (e.g. mound system) in place of a conventional leachfield. If modifications/new requirements are stipulated, you will need to resubmit your application. If your application is accepted, you will be issued a septic permit--the go-ahead for construction of your septic system.

Step 4: Construction. After you receive your septic permit, installation of your system can begin. Typically, installation will be accompanied by at least three inspections (performed by local health board officials and/or licensed septic inspectors), i.e., before construction begins, after the leachfield excavation has begun/before the leachfield is covered over and upon completion of the system, prior to occupants moving in and/or system use.

Q: What does an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) agreement entail?
(From www.septic-info.com)

1. Preventative maintenance: A member of the Clearwater team will service the system quarterly to ensure that the system is functioning properly. If it is not, steps will be taken to correct or improve performance.

2. Sampling: sampling for a new system is done quarterly. Sampling checks the levels of BOD, TSS, Nitrate Nitrogen, and Ammonia Nitrogen. The sampling frequency may be reduced to annually, once the system has proven to be functioning well and within permit for at least 1 year. The local Board of Health determines the reduction in sampling frequency.

3. Reporting: reporting is done quarterly. Clearwater Recovery delivers all of the necessary paperwork to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Local Boards of Health. A copy of the report is also sent to the home owner.