What We Do

Tom was trained and gained most of his experience within the Virginia Health Department, he is familiar with VDH's regulations, policies, and procedures throughout the State of Virginia. Tom is an experienced geologist and has a good understanding of the environmental impacts and issues inherent in constructing septic and well systems.

Below is a list of our services from the most basic to the most comprehensive:

Drainfield and Well Placement

BRSC specializes in performing site and soil evaluations, verifying that properties meet the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations for the installation of sewage disposal systems (drainfields). We examine the landscape and soil conditions, and if they are suitable, we design a septic system that will handle the number of bedrooms for which the homeowner is applying.

We mark the corners of the proposed drainfield with clearly labeled wooden stakes, so that they can be easily identified by surveyors, the Health Department, the homeowner, and the septic contractor. Another service we provide is identifying an area where a well can be drilled. We will ensure that the area meets all the requirements in the Private Well Regulations as well as any additional requirements contained in the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations.

Feasibility Studies

For a Feasibility Study, we stake out the proposed drainfield site and write a letter of opinion, stating whether or not the property meets the minimum requirements of the sewage regulations. This is helpful if you want to quickly find out if a property "percs," without having to go through an involved process of applying for permits, paying agency fees, hiring surveyors, etc.

Certification Letters

A surveyor is hired to locate our proposed drain field area onto a plat of the property. This is then used to produce a formal report that can be taken to the Health Department for approval. A Health Department certification letter based on our report guarantees that some type of septic system can be approved for that property, as long as site conditions do not substantially change. A certification letter never expires, and it is transferable from owner to owner.

Septic and Well Permits

BRSC is highly qualified and experienced in performing septic and well permits. The Virginia Health Department requires a thorough report from an AOSE (Authorized On-site Soil Evaluator) in order to approve a septic and/or well permit.

Most importantly, the report must include a scaled drawing that shows the exact location of the proposed house, drainfield, well (if the homeowner is not connecting to public water), and any planned accessory structures.

A permit package must also include all of the soil descriptions, construction specifications, abbreviated design for the septic system, and an application page. Tom has done hundreds of septic permits, so he has the experience and know-how to get the job.

Subdivision Planning

Any time someone needs to divide a piece of property, they are required to hire a licensed soil evaluator (such as us). This is now true for family divisions, as well as multiple lot subdivisions. BRSC has a good rapport with most of the local surveyors, because they know that our drainfield areas are always clearly marked, and that we are prompt with our paperwork. That is exactly why many surveyors in the area recommend us to their clients when they are working on a subdivision.

Alternative Septic Design:

Anyone who has bought or sold land in the past five to ten years has noticed the same trend: good land is hard to come by and it is getting more difficult to find property where you can install a conventional septic system. While we always go out of our way to find conventional systems for our clients, some properties have site and/or soil conditions that simply make that impossible. If a property does not "perc" for a conventional system, we always determine what type of system the property will require while we are in the field, in order to give our clients a good idea of what they can expect to pay for the system.

Some alternative systems are actually very simple and only require an extra treatment unit installed after the septic tank, with a drain field that consists of shallow placed trenches. We are able to do permits for these types of systems. Other lots, however, have more limiting soils and/or site conditions, and require systems that only a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) can design. Since we are familiar with all types of alternative systems, we can do the leg work in the field to lay out the area necessary for any system and then if necessary, consult with P.E. in order to complete the permit.

Septic Inspections / Walkovers

BRSC has tons of experience inspecting septic systems. When we do a septic permit, we are responsible for inspecting the drain field, to ensure that the contractor has installed it correctly; that is, according to the details of the permit. We pride ourselves on being available when contractors call us for an inspection. Our goal is to make it to the site as quickly as possible so that the contractor can get the finished drain field covered up. Additionally, we are looking out for our clients, to make sure that the system will function for many years to come.

When it comes to septic walkovers, we offer our years of experience in looking at existing septic systems. We can perform a thorough examination of a septic system to determine whether the system is working properly, along with a records review at the Health Department, to make sure there are no issues with a system before a property is sold.