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.

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 done correctly.

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.

 

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.