What is the first step to installing a new Title 5 Septic System?
Before you can install a new septic system, you must hire an Engineer or Registered Sanitarian to perform a site evaluation of your property and design an engineered septic plan. You can find a list of Engineers and Registered Sanitarians in the yellow pages of your phone book. The Duxbury Board of Health also has a list of Engineers and Sanitarians that work locally. It is a good idea to call at least three professionals to compare packages and prices. Some companies have a complete package for engineering and installation. Others will only offer the engineering and you must then hire a contractor to install the system. When acquiring quotes from potential Engineers/Sanitarians find out if the final cost includes the “as-built” plan that is required by the Duxbury Board of Health. It is
also important to find out if the price includes the backhoe operator to dig the holes for the soil evaluation and perc test (explained later).
What is an “as-built” plan?
Your Engineer/Sanitarian draws an “as-built” plan once the system is installed and before the system is buried. The “as-built” shows the exact location and elevation of each component of your new system. This is useful if you ever need to locate the system in the future.
I’ve hired my Engineer/Registered Sanitarian, what’s next?
Your Engineer/Sanitarian will schedule a perc test and soil evaluation with the Duxbury Board of Health. An Agent of the Board of Health must witness the perc test. The Town’s fee for this is $200.00. If you need to have a perc test and the Health Agent is not available you may use our consultants. The consultant fee is $320.00 plus the town fee of $200.00. The Town and consultant fees do not include the cost of your Engineer/Sanitarian or the backhoe operator needed to dig the holes.
What is a perc test and soil evaluation?
Perc test and soil evaluations are tools the Engineer/Sanitarian use to design your system. A hole is dug with a backhoe in the area the proposed septic system is to be located. The Engineer/Sanitarian classifies the soil and pours water into a hole to determine how quickly the soil absorbs the water, this is called the perc rate and will help determine the design of your system. The hole is then dug down ten feet or deeper to determine where the groundwater is. Usually two holes are required for a new system. The holes that are dug will be back-filled.
The perc tests have been completed, what’s next?
The Engineer/Sanitarian will take the information from his site visit including the results from the perc test and soil evaluation and design a septic system for your home. Three copies of the proposed septic system will be submitted to the Duxbury Board of Health along with floor plans of the existing or proposed dwelling and an application for a Disposal System Construction Permit. The fee for submitting the plans and permit for a residential dwelling is $200.00. In most cases, your Engineer or Sanitarian will submit the proper paper work to the Board of Health for you.
What does the Board of Health do with the plans and application?
The Duxbury Health Agent will review the plans. If the plans comply with Title 5 and Duxbury Rules and Regulations the Health Agent will stamp and sign the plans. If revisions are needed the Health Agent will call the Engineer and request the changes. If no variances are needed the process usually takes from one to three weeks.
My Engineer/Sanitarian told me that I need a variance from Title 5 or Duxbury Rules & Regulations. What is a variance and how do I get one?
A variance is a waiver from a section of either Title 5 or Duxbury Rules & Regulations. Only the Duxbury Board of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection can grant variances. Common variances that homeowners seek are allowing the bottom of your septic system to be one foot closer to the high groundwater elevation and allowing your septic system to be closer than 150 feet from the edge of wetlands. The Duxbury Board of Health meets the first and third Thursday of each month, it is at these meetings that the Board of Health votes to approve or deny variances.
What is the difference between Title 5 and Duxbury Rules & Regulations?
The State Environmental Code Title 5: Minimum Requirements for the Subsurface Disposal of Sanitary Sewage, or just Title 5, is a state code. Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 111 Section 31, allows the local board of health to adopt regulations that are more stringent than the state code. In Duxbury these are called Duxbury Rules & Regulations. A copy of Duxbury Rules & Regulations can be obtained from the Duxbury Board of Health.
My septic plan has been reviewed and signed by the Health Agent, now what?
It is time to hire an installer that is licensed in Duxbury and have the system installed. A copy of an approved stamped plan can be obtained from the Board of Health or your Engineer/Sanitarian can give you copies of the approved plan. As with finding an Engineer/Sanitarian, it is important to shop around. A mistake some people make is seeking bids with a plan not reviewed by the Health Agent. Changes that the Health Agent requires may change the cost of installation. A smart consumer will seek bids with an approved plan. When seeking bids from Installer’s make sure you understand what is included. Some contractors will not include fence removal and replacement or loam and seed over the new system. It is important to know the availability of your installer. Find out when the work
will be completed. This will be important if you are trying to sell your home. A list of Installers licensed in Duxbury is available at the Board of Health Office or look in the yellow pages of your phone book.
I have hired my Installer, am I done with the Board of Health and my Engineer/Sanitarian?
Not yet. The Duxbury Health Agent will make several inspections during the installation of your septic system to make sure the system is being constructed according to the engineered plan. Both the Health Agent and your Engineer/Sanitarian must conduct a final inspection of the system. Your Engineer/Sanitarian will then submit a certified “as-built” of your septic system to the Duxbury Board of Health. Once the “as-built” is reviewed by the Health Agent he/she will sign a Certificate of Compliance stating that the system has been installed according to state and local codes. The Certificate of Compliance is sent to the owner of the property.
It is important to note that there is only one original Certificate of Compliance. If this certificate is lost, it can not be reproduced. You may obtain photocopies of the Certificate of Compliance from the Duxbury Board of Health. A Certificate of Compliance is valid for two years, unless you comply with Title 5, 310 CMR 15.301(4)(a) Expands the validity of Certificates of Compliance in lieu of a system inspection from 2 years to 3 years provide the system was pumped once during the third year.
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