It is a fact that people are leaving the cities and towns to find a small “place” in the country- just a few acres where they can plant a nice garden, maybe have a horse or two, and get out of the rat race of the city. They find what they believe is the perfect place for them; nice house, just the right size, close enough to town so that shopping is easy. The home inspection report is good, so they make the deal and close. They forgot something…..the sewer. This information is not usually in a home inspection report.
Most buyers today, especially those that move from a city, forget or simply do not realize that homes not in a town or city have their own separate system for sewage treatment. As long as the toilets flush, everything is ok, they think. Then something happens. Maybe they are mowing their yard and they come across an area that is wet and smells. Sometimes they receive a letter from the Health Department saying that there is a complaint about their sewer. Suddenly they are faced with a problem and have no idea how to fix it, do not have the money to fix it, or worse, do not have enough property to install a new system. Where do they turn? How could this be avoided?
The answers to these questions are simple……….request a sewage evaluation before you make a firm commitment. A sewage evaluation, done by a properly licensed inspector can save the homeowner a lot of time, money, and frustration.
When the inspector comes out to the site he/she will determine what type of system is there (if any). If it is a septic system, he or she will uncover the septic tank to determine whether or not is the proper size, and determine if the tank is in good, sound condition, as well as determining if the tank needs to have the solids pumped out. If there is no access riser to the tank he will recommend that one be installed so that the tank is accessible for periodic inspection. He will also determine whether there is a filter on the tank and may recommend one if it isn’t there. If it is an aeration tank, he will determine if the aerator is working or not and again make recommendations to improve the system. After the tank is inspected, the inspector moves on to the second part of the system; the drainfield or the lagoon.
If there is a lagoon, the inspector will check the sizing of the lagoon to assure that it is big enough. He will check set back distances from the house, property lines, and neighboring homes. If the lagoon is surrounded by brush, trees, has cat tails in it or is unfenced, or is leaking he will make recommendations on repairs or fence installation.
If there is a drainfield the inspector will determine whether or not the drainfield is properly working. He will flush dye into the septic tank and add water to see if the dye surfaces. If the house has been unoccupied for some time it is unlikely that dye will surface immediately, and it may take several days of adding water (this simulates normal water usage when occupied) for dye to surface. If no dye surfaces, and the rest of the system appears to be in working order, his report will indicate that. He will also check the drainfield for open ended laterals or “overflow” pipes. An overflow pipe allows untreated sewage to run out on the ground. These may be found in road ditches, going to the creek, or just running out onto the surface of the ground. Untreated sewage contains millions of pathogenic bacteria, which can then cause disease transmission to humans via animals, vectors such a flies and mosquitoes, and children playing in it. Overflow pipes are not allowed in any individual sewage treatment system, except for lagoons. If an overflow pipe does exist it is probably because the system that was installed was not the proper system for the soil in the area.
Now you have the inspector’s report. From this point on the buyer determines whether or not he wishes to purchase the property. He may decide that he wants any deficiencies corrected before he purchases the property. He may decide to accept the system as it is and hope that no one complains about the system. Either way, the buyer has the opportunity to make an informed decision.
Be informed. Know your options and if you have any questions concerning your sewage evaluation or your sewage system, contact the Randolph County Health Department at (660)263-6643. We are here to help!