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 Health Department requires a thorough report from an AOSE 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.

 

When Tom worked for VDH, repair permits were among his highest priorities, and he has a great deal of experience doing them. When BRSC does a repair permit, we understand that we are working with someone who is in a very bad situation, who needs our help to get the problem solved quickly, in the most affordable way possible. As VDH becomes less involved with the septic permitting process in the future, it is BRSC's pledge to always help people with failing drain fields, by offering our professional services at a reduced price. We will schedule your work promptly and produce your required paperwork as quickly as possible, in order to get your system fixed.

In addition, we offer you our years of experience troubleshooting failing drain fields. There is no need, for instance, to replace an entire drain field if it is not really failing. Many times, sewage may be coming to the ground because of a broken pipe or an improperly leveled distribution box. Pipes may be clogged, or a pump may be malfunctioning. BRSC has the knowledge and experience it takes to realize when these problems might be occurring, and to best direct you as to how to get them fixed.

Using a hand auger, BRSC evaluates the soil beneath the proposed house foundation. Many times we find that a simple field examination can rule out the presence of shrink swell soils, and we can quickly write a letter that will allow you to proceed with getting your building permit.

If, however, we suspect that the soil may have shrink swell characteristics, we will take a sample and send it to a laboratory. We then incorporate the lab results into a soil report. If the soil does not have shrink swell tendencies, the homeowner has no worries. If the soil is found to have moderate or high shrink swell characteristics, we recommend that the homeowner use a Professional Engineer to design reinforced footings that will withstand the forces of the shrinking and expanding soil.

 

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.