A Manual for Conducting Proper Inspections of Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems for Property Transfers in Maryland. Pre-treatment.

Transcription

1 A Manua for Conducting Proper nspections of Onsite Sewage Disposa Systems for Property Transfers in Maryand Production We Pre-treatment Disposa Evapotran '}iration... ~ So Layers j sou Ab,orption 'Pitrifk4tion :...---,. L 1

2 1 1 Sponsored by Maryand Onsite Wastewater Professionas Association (MOWPA) in cooperation with Maryand Department of the Environment Revised October , 2

3 Contents ntroduction... 4 nspection Scope & Services... 7 Genera OSDS nformation... 9 Site nspection Procedures dentifying the OSDS Components nspecting the Septic Tank Evauating Septic Tank Performance nspecting the Distribution Box Conducting a Hydrauic Loading Test Pumping the Septic Tank Evauating the Drainfied Evauating Pump Tanks Fina Report Preparation

4 ntroduction Maryand aw (which is Annotated Code ) reads: 1 -, Persons inspecting sewage disposa systems for transfer of property; proof of competion of course of instruction; reguations. (a) Verification of sewage disposa system inspection quaifications.- After Juy 1, 1999, every person engaged in the business of inspecting an on-site sewage disposa system for a transfer of property must certify to the Department of the Environment that the person has competed a course of instruction, approved by the Department, in the proper inspection of on-site sewage disposa systems. (b) Proof of inspection course competion.- Every person engaged in the business of inspecting an on-site sewage disposa system for a transfer of property sha make avaiabe to persons contracting for the inspection service evidence of competion of the course of instruction. (c) Reguations.- The Department sha adopt reguations to impement the provisions of this section. -, -, Onsite sewage disposa systems (OSDS), often referred to as "septic systems" are generay inspected by septic systeni instaers, pumpers, pumbers, some home inspectors and even government reguators. n Maryand prior to 1999, property transfer "inspections" often comprised of a cursory assessment of the superficia parts of these systems (what can be easiy seen) if an inspection was done at a. This casua approach occurred due to the ack of education and training on OSDS and because in most minds, septic systems were considered as temporary, and not a more pem1anent and important part of the home's vaue. The resuts were that many of the critica components of the system were not propery evauated and thus contributed to the probem ofreduced system ongevity, "faiing systems" and reated water quaity issues. n addition, certain buyers were faced with expensive repairs that they did not expect which on occasion resuted in civi proceedings. Today, these types of cursory inspections are no onger acceptabe. The OSDS is now considered an importamt part of the property's infrastructure. This principe is reinforced by the US EPA who in 1997 stated that "... onsite [sewage disposa] systems are a viabe wastewater treatment aternatives in rura areas and for sma communities." With an increasing number of states passing egisation and reguation requiring discosure and inspection at the time of rea estate transfer, this procedure is even more critica. Even in the financia community, many mortgage companies require a statement addressing the condition of the existing OSDS. n 2005, the US EPA further issued vountary guideines to states addressing the need for management of onsite wastewater treatment and decentraized systems, again stating the need for inspections. They stated "A systems need to be inspected, at an interva defined by the technoogica compexity of system components, the receiving environment, and the reative risk posed to pubic heath and vaued water resources." n June 2013, the U.S. EPA pubished "A Mode Program for 4

5 Onsite Management in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed" which again stressed the need for routine inspections. The cumination of these events aso means that the need for inspections of existing and new systems is becoming a standard practice. As a resut, individuas working within the service industry need specific procedures and ongoing training to guide them in this process. The purpose of this document is to estabish standardization in the service provider industry for this work to occur and to ceary define what constitutes a proper inspection for property transfer. --, At the same time, with increased and proper inspections there is a corresponding increase in iabiity. However, it is beieved that with we-defined procedures, this iabiity can be imited and greaty minimized so that oca and state agencies and financia institutions can have confidence in the quaity of the system inspection process as we as securing the financia security of the owner's investment. The foowing training program and accompanying procedures have been designed to respond to the need for inspector education and training for the inspection of OSDS for property transfers. The key eements of a proper inspection are aso summarized in the Recommended Onsite Sewage Disposa System (OSDS) nspection Form provided aong with this manua. This manua provides specific inspection procedures beginning with conducting a fie search, interviewing the homeowner or current occupant, competing the fied inspection and documenting the findings in an inspection form. t is important to recognize that not every situation can be described in this manua, course or be covered by a standard format. Therefore, other observations unique to the site or property must be considered and documented in any fina determination reated to system operation. Considerabe fied experience in working with OSDS is necessary to perform these inspections propery and individuas taking this course shoud recognize their imitations based upon their experience, skis and abiities, Over the years, severa different types of OSDS inspections have emerged. t is important to recognize and communicate the differences in the eves of work from both a business profitabiity and iabiity standpoint. Exampes of the inspection eves incude: ---, The infamous "drive by" or cursory inspection, (incuding a soe dye test) is reay NOT considered a vaid inspection by MDE, MOWP A, or this course/manua. The "compiance" inspection procedure that examines whether the current system meets a eements of current state or oca codes. ' The "operating" inspection which examines each component of the existing system and determines its operating performance at the time of inspection. The "warranty" inspection that guarantees the owner that the system wi work for a definite time into the future. Many owners seing property might request the "cursory" inspection that gives them and the buyer extremey imited information at minima cost. However, these imited inspections usuay 5

6 \ -, do not refect a true picture of how the system is operating or what the system is capabe of handing. A mortgage company may be interested in a "compiance" inspection but typicay they are not. Whie pointing out compiance issues is an important part of evauating an OSDS, stating a system is "in" or "out" of compiance does not necessariy indicate whether the system functioning propery or whether it is a human heath or environmenta concern. An " operating" inspection is a comprehensive inspection of the entire OSDS that is accompished by foowing defined procedures that reaisticay evauates the system as it exists to determine whether each of its parts are functioning propery at the time of inspection. A property purchaser may desire the "warranty. " Offering a warranty is not recommended since it is difficut to predict or contro how the users wi treat a system in the future. Past performance is not necessariy a guarantee for future performance. -; For property transfers it is recommended that OSDS inspections consist of an "operating" inspection. An "operating" inspection resuts in a record of each component of the system's current condition and eads to one of four possibe outcomes: "acceptabe," "acceptabe with concerns," "unacceptabe" and "needs further evauation." Compiance issues shoud aso be documented but, as pointed out above they may not accuratey refect the systems acceptabiity. The "acceptabe" rating documents that the existing component is operating propery. t does not, however, address the ife expectancy of the system or the abiity to competey compy with a of the standards estabished by state or oca codes. The "acceptabe with concerns" rating coud be used to rate a component that is operationa but shows signs of a defect or serious concern. (For instance: a seepage pit with ony 1 ft of iquid eve remaining beow the invert). The determination as to when and how to use this rating wi vary from site to site and shoud factor in other aspects of the system, its current and future usage, and site constraints. The "unacceptabe" rating may be unwecomed news for the buyer/seer, and unfortunatey, some systems wi inevitaby fa into this category. But remember: a faiing system is not the faut of the inspector. nspectors are required to honesty and accuratey compete a thorough investigation and the document the resuts. Some systems are unacceptabe, or faiing, in such a way that they present an imminent pubic heath threat, whie many systems are unacceptabe for other reasons. ' -. n some instances, for a variety of reasons, an inspector may not be abe to determine a particuar components' acceptabiity. n these situations, it is recommended that those components be rated as "needs further evauation." For exampe, ifthere are no records detaiing the ocation and/or design of any component of a system and the ocations are not determined and the component is not inspected during the inspection, the inspector cannot honesty report that it is acceptabe or unacceptabe. Uness the inspector is authorized to conduct the necessary work to verify the ocation and functionaity of that component, the report shoud indicate that assessment of that component "needs further evauation." Reporting that a component is acceptabe or unacceptabe when it was not propery inspected is unethica and unacceptabe. 6

7 ' - nspection Scope & Services t is important that the inspector provide a scope of services document that outines for the cient the services that wi be performed during the inspection. This document shoud be taiored to fit each inspection situation with wording that is very cear about what steps wi be foowed, and what wi not be done. Ceary defining what is acceptabe and unacceptabe is very important. As addressed above, an operating inspection is a different than a compiance inspection. For the purposes of a property transfer, MDE recognizes that a proper OSDS inspection incudes the foowing steps: Fie Search - Obtaining records from oca heath or environmenta heath department. Homeowner/Occupant nterview - Obtaining information about the OSDS from the current occupant. Site nvestigation - Physica inspection of OSDS. Fina Report - Documentation of observations, and findings. Not performing any one of these steps during a property transfer inspection wi be considered by MDE to be an incompete and improper inspection as wi not foowing the inspection criteria estabished in this course. Step 1 - Fie Search Gather a avaiabe data and detais about the design and ocation of the OSDS. This is most easiy accompished by requesting the information from homeowner and the oca environmenta heath department or permitting agency. By aw, this information must be provided by the government within 30 days. However, some jurisdictions wi provide this information within hours, and others may aso require that the records be picked up in person. This information wi be very important and hepfu in assessing the ocation, age and design of the OSDS. t wi aso provide important information about historic or ongoing probems with the system and any repairs that have been made. f you are unabe to get the as-buit records prior to competing your inspection, document the date of the request and the reason why the records were unavaiabe. Step 2 - Homeowner/Occupant nterview to obtain the OSDS History The homeowner, or tenant, shoud be interviewed (even if they are not the cient) to provide information on the OSDS and how it has been utiized. This step is even more important when no pubic records are avaiabe. f you are not provided with this information or were prevented from contacting the owner, document the request and any reasons. Start by asking the age of the system, description of the system and whether or not there have been any repairs to the system. The oca heath department or permitting agency records shoud refect any repairs to the system if a permit was issued. Find out if there has been any history of probems with the system either backing up or overfowing onto the surface. Aso be sure to ask 7

8 --.. when the system was ast pumped and how often it has been pumped in the past. A history of frequent pump-outs may be an indication of a probem. Aso discuss how many peope are iving in the house and what the genera daiy water usage is ike. Note if they are running any type of business or hosting reguar functions at their house that woud increase the demand on the OSDS. f the house has been vacant, note how ong-- this coud be an important factor in assessing the system. f the OSDS incudes an advanced pre-treatment unit (such as a BAT), recircuating sand fiter, sand or at grade mound, drip or other "nonconventiona" OSDS technoogy, ask if the system is being (or has been) reguary maintained by another contractor, and note the name of the contractor. Document whether the system has a vaid service contract. More detai on the reevancy of the Homeowner/Occupant nterview is discussed beow the section entited "Genera System nformation" Step 3 - Site nvestigation After a fie search and homeowner interview is competed, the fied inspection can take pace. Before proceeding directy to the fied, fi out the genera information and OSDS history sections of the form as competey as possibe. Make sure you have a necessary paperwork, essentia equipment and know the oca government requirements. t is aso a good idea to make sure that property ines are ocated and ceary marked before any fied investigation is begun. t is possibe that some components or a of the OSDS is ocated on another property. The inspection may require some digging so you shoud know the ocations of buried pipes and cabes. n Maryand, ca Miss Utiity at prior to doing any excavation work. This may take up to four days to arrange but is important from the perspective of both iabiity and persona safety. Detais for of conducting the fied inspection are discussed in the section entited "Site nspection Procedures" f you are unabe to get as buit records and are not abe to get information of the OSDS history from the owner, the fied inspection must be very comprehensive. Step 4 - nspection Report t is recommended that the inspection observations and findings be documented on the --- Recommended Onsite Sewage Disposa System (OSDS) nspection Form provided as part of this course. Use of this form or a form containing at east a of this information is strongy encouraged. Competing each section of the form insures that observations are we documented and recorded. f a question about the system arises in the future, the information captured on the form shoud be of sufficient detai and competeness, so accuracy can be verified. The inspection methods used at each site wi vary, but the genera procedure shoud be the same. : 8

9 Genera OSDS nformation Age of the OSDS - ' Determining the age of the OSDS wi give an indication as the ikey design and construction of the system. The oder the system, the more ikey it is that probems wi be encountered. The average expected ife of a traditiona conventiona on-site system is years. However, do not assume that because a system was recenty instaed, it is without faws or probems. Aso, oder systems may have significanty different designs than are currenty in use. n particuar, the system capacity may be smaer and may not be suitabe to hande modem famiy iving or modem uxury appiances. At some sites, an oder system may mean no system at a, and coud be direct pipe discharging to the surface, subsurface or stream. Water Suppy, The water source to the home shoud be noted. Some OSDS have pubic water as a source instead of we water. Meter readings are a great refection of actua water usage and shoud be used when present to assess average daiy water usage. f the water suppy is a we, the ocation and construction of the we shoud be documented and are important considerations pertaining to the OSDS. Some oder properties served by an OSDS may have a spring or cistern as a water suppy which are prone to contamination from substandard OSDS. The we serving the property shoud be identified and the setback distances from the OSDS noted. n Maryand the setback distance from a we competed into an unconfined aquifer to any identifiabe source of contamination (this incudes a major components of an OSDS) is 100 feet. Wes drawing from a confined aquifer must be 50 feet from identifiabe sources of contamination. The term "confined" essentiay means that the aquifer is seaed from receiving water directy from the surface or near surface. Generay speaking for Maryand, areas west of -95 are underain by Piedmont bedrock aquifers that are unconfined aquifers, and areas east of- 95 are underain by unconfined and confined aquifers.... These setback distances were not estabished unti the ate 1970s so properties deveoped prior to this time may not compy with the current setback standards. This may or may not be a probem depending on the ocation and construction of the we and OSDS. n genera, wes shoud be at higher eevation that the OSDS. f wes are shaow(< 50 feet), and in particuar, if they are hand-dug wes, there is a higher ikeihood of water quaity concerns. f there is some concern about the ocation or construction of a we reative to the OSDS, it is recommended that the oca Environmenta Heath Department be consuted. A variance may have been approved that aows the reduced setback condition to exist. f a variance was approved, this information shoud be avaiabe in the records. Water Usage Compare current water usage and anticipated water usage with the designed fow. Since the eary 1970' s residentia systems in Maryand have been designed based on the number of bedrooms assuming maximum daiy sewage fows of 150 gaons/bedroom/day or 75 9

10 gaons/person/day assuming 2 peope per bedroom. We shoud remember though, that bedrooms don't generate wastewater, peope do, and actua usage is estimated at 50 gpd/person. Compare the number of bedrooms, current number of residents and water use pattern with the anticipated number ofresidents and water use pattern. For exampe, if the residents are oder, they may be very good at imiting water use, whereas other residents might not be as efficient at using water. On the other hand, if the peope moving in are empoyed fu-time and are not at home during the day, shower at a heath cub and eat out reguary, they wi add very itte water to the system, and the current system may be more than adequate. Aso compare the permitted number of bedrooms to the Rea Estate Listing. This is another concern to be noted if these numbers do not match. Differences in the fow shoud aso be considered for a famiy with chidren. n particuar, if there are a number of teenagers, the amount of bathing and aundry coud increase dramaticay. A famiies go through high and ow wastewater fow periods as kids are growing up. Mutipe famiies in homes aso can affect wastewater fow as can famiies that home schoo their chidren. Two or more famiies sharing an OSDS typicay use more water than a singe arge famiy, because there are more mea times and more oads of aundry. Occupancy V a cant Properties The number of peope iving or that recenty ived at the house at the time of the inspection shoud be noted aong with the number of bedrooms. f the house has been vacant for more than a week, this characteristic shoud aso be noted. As time passes, determining what the system is capabe of handing becomes more difficut. Be very cautious with properties that are in forecosure. Leaking Fixtures -,, Make sure that a of the water-using devices in the house operate propery. f they do not, they shoud be fixed. This information can be obtained from the Home nspection. Repair or repacement of eaky fixtures is a highy effective, ow-cost protection of the system. No footing or roof drains (cean water) shoud be routed through the OSDS. Even if the current owner or rea estate agent doesn't know whether eakage to the OSDS is occurring, there may be indications of this during the fied inspection. A constant tricke of water into the septic tank when no in-house devices are being used is a good indicator of extra water being added to the system. However, depending on groundwater or weather conditions, this observation coud aso mean that there is eakage of surface water or groundwater into the inet pipe eading to the tank, or from around the tank itsef. Garbage Disposas Use of a garbage disposa is generay NOT RECOMMENDED for use with onsite systems as it promotes the disposa of undigested food to the system which takes onger to decompose, and may not separate as readiy in the septic tank. Septic tanks serving homes with garbage disposas may need to be pumped out more often to ensure that soids are not entering the soi treatment 10

11 system. n addition, the use of an effuent fiter on the outet of the septic tank is a good preventative measure for protecting the soi absorption system. Water Treatment Systems Depending on the age and type of water system, the primary concern for these devices is the potentia for sending excess water to the onsite sewage disposa system. For exampe, a typica water softener may ony backwash once a week, ony adding an additiona gaons to the system (usuay in the midde of the night). However, a whoe-house reverse osmosis (RO) system generates between 1 and 4 gaons of wastewater for every gaon of fitered water. So a whoe-house RO system coud easiy overoad an onsite system that was not designed for that additiona wastewater oad....,_ i A secondary concern is the chemica nature of the water discharged to the onsite system. Backwash from water softeners has high concentrations of sat which can be corrosive to concrete and meta. Excessive sat concentrations in the wastewater can ead to premature faiure of the cast iron pipe, concrete (and meta) septic tanks, and/or tank baffes. Whie many studies indicate that typica sat eves found in wastewater with softening systems do not pose any concern for the bioogica activity in the tank or the soi treatment system, many manufacturers of pre-treatment units do not want/aow discharge of the backwash into the their units. Where advanced pre-treatment units or BAT units are used in conjunction with a water softener, it is generay recommended that the backwash from the water softener be discharged on the downstream side of the pre-treatment unit or to a separate approved onsite sewage disposa system. n genera, oder water treatment systems are ess efficient and use more water than newer systems. t is important that a water treatment devices are reguary maintained to optimize their performance and minimize any negative in1pacts on the onsite sewage disposa system. n Home Businesses Depending on the type of in-home business, extra care may be necessary to propery evauate an onsite system serving this usage. n genera, the system design shoud be reviewed to make sure that the septic tank capacity is arge enough to provide at east 1.5 times the daiy fow voume, and that the soi treatment system is sized to hande the maximum daiy design fow. -, Day-care faciities and bed and breakfasts are reativey common in home businesses, which due to the nature of their usage can be probematic for an onsite system. A two-compartment septic tank, effuent fiter, grease trap and more frequent pumping of the septic tank may be good recommendations for these types of uses. Home businesses (or hobbies) invoving taxidermy, awn care, painting and photography may affect the operation of an onsite system due to the chemicas used onsite. These chemicas can impair the system' s bioogica functions, and proper separation of the wastes, utimatey eading to premature faiure of the soi treatment system. t shoud be noted how these chemicas are stored and disposed and whether the owner has a specific protoco of handing these wastes. - 11

12 Home beauty shops, dog kennes, and veterinarians may cause two different probems for an onsite system. The first is excess hair entering the septic tank. Hair can generay be screened out with an effuent fiter, but if one does not exist, the hair can quicky compromise the soi absorptions system. The second concern is chemicas that may be used such as beach, dye, antibiotics, ois and other chemicas that may cause significant probems in the septic tank and utimatey the soi treatment system. t shoud aso be noted how these chemicas are stored and disposed and whether the owner has a specific protoco of handing these wastes Commercia Businesses Onsite sewage disposa systems serving food service faciities (i.e., restaurants, bars, convenience stores, banquet has, etc) may be the most difficut to design and costy to maintain. This is generay due to the reativey high strength of the waste generated (high BOD, FOG and TSS), and the variabiity of the fow. f these systems are not designed, instaed and maintained propery, the onsite system wi fai quicky. Many of these types of businesses now incorporate the use of grease traps and advanced pre-treatment units to ower the strength of the waste (and nitrogen) prior to discharging to the soi treatment system. t is recommended, and in some cases required, that these systems have a current service contract with a quaified service provider. \ A commercia aundry and/ or dishwashing operation aso present specia concerns for an onsite system, not ony due to the voume of waste that might be generated from these activities, but aso the temperature. Hot water keeps fats from congeaing and rising to the top of a grease trap or septic tank, thereby enabing fats, ois and grease to pass through the septic tank and into soi treatment area. Medications n genera, unused medications shoud never be disposed of through a septic system ( or municipa system for that matter). However, even when taken as prescribed, certain medications wi pass through the patient and can affect the performance of an onsite sewage disposa system. n particuar, antibiotics and drugs used in chemo-therapy can virtuay steriize the "good" bacteria in the septic tank and enter into the ground and surface water. Non-Sewage Water Certain water generated from a househod shoud not be directed into to the OSDS or onto t1e -, soi absorption system. One exampe is swimming poo water which can cause probems due to the voume of water as we as the chorine content. Drainage water from roofs, or other storm water runoff, shoud not be directed into or onto the system at a, and shoud be routed around it. Sump pump discharge shoud aso be directed away from the fied system and a interior pumbing shoud be inspected to make sure it is not directed into the OSDS. A good home inspection can aso identify these issues. 12

13 OSDS Repairs /Maintenance Owners and/or rea estate agents shoud be asked about existing probems and/or OSDS repairs. These conditions incude issues such as backups, sow drainage, freeze ups, odors, need for frequent pump outs and surface discharge. n addition, it shoud be noted if there were any repairs or system additions or modifications that have been done since the origina instaation. Knowing this infonnation before starting the fied inspection can speed up the process particuary, when you find something that was not part of the current system documentation. Every attempt shoud be made to get information from the owner on system history. Previous nspections/pump Outs n some instances, an inspector may be asked to give a "second opinion" on the adequacy of an OSDS. Again, the owner and/or rea estate agent shoud be asked if there has been a previous inspection (or recent pump-out) and if the resuts of that inspection are avaiabe. n these cases, it is ikey that a probem was noted and the parties invoved are ooking for confirmation. f a septic tank was recenty pumped, it may have an impact on your observations. t is aso an appropriate time to ask again if any modifications have been made since that former inspection in an attempt to improve performance. Sometimes peope are "shopping" for the answer that they want to hear. The majority, though, are getting a second opinion because they want to be sure of the right answer before they proceed. Service Contracts -, ' The owner shoud aso be asked if there is a reguar service or maintenance contract for the OSDS, and if so find out who the provider is and what type of services they are providing. Components of an OSDS that need reguar service are; septic tanks, pump tanks, aternating (bu run) vaves, pressure distribution networks in mounds and pd, media fiters, drip systems, hoding tanks, advanced treatment units (ATUs, aka BA Ts) and other devices. Knowing that reguar preventive maintenance has been done is an indicator that the system has been taken care of and is more than ikey operating the way it shoud. Certainy, a prospective buyer woud ike to know this and the seer can use this as a seing point. Of course, sometimes this maintenance wi have been done because there have been probems with the system. A of the previous information can be used to hep interpret whether the current eve of pumping is due to a probem or is preventive in nature. t is important to note that whether the homeowner is aware of it or not, BA Ts come with a imited warranty the first 5 years after instaation and that incudes of annua inspections by an MDE and vendor certified service provider

14 Site nspection Procedures After conducting the homeowner (occupant) interview and obtaining pertinent records from the oca environmenta heath department regarding the OSDS, the next step is the actua site inspection of the system. To perform a proper OSDS inspection it is important that you have the necessary toos with you during the fied inspection. The foowing toos and items are suggested to conduct a proper inspection. Essentia Toos inspection forms cipboard or hard writing surface codebook (state code or oca ordinance) this manua pump truck or access to one sudge judge disinfectant wipes for hands rubber goves and eye protection mini excavator* crowbar or manhoe id puer digita camera meta and/or fibergass soi probe shove and digging bar good adjustabe mirror or inspection camera L-hook to ocate inet/outet pipes hydrauic cement ( quickrete) camera fashight Stop watch and graduated bucket tape measure ocating equipment ( ex: fushabe transmitter or transmitter attached to fish snake) assortment of hand toos (Channe ocks, screwdrivers, ratcheting straps) Other Toos to Consider fiter puer business cards hose stee-toe waterproof boots materia to repace baffe id for D-box pocket knife speed eveers water botte screws sewer pipe inspection customer & emergency numbers first aid kit *Uness you are wiing to dig by hand to whatever depth is necessary to expose necessary components ' 14

15 dentifying the OSDS Components The fina report shoud incude a summary of a of the OSDS components aong with an assessment of their current condition. t is generay recommended to start by finding the septic tank and then work your way downstream. As detaied in the Recommended Onsite Sewage Disposa System (OSDS) nspection Form (provided as part of this course), there are a wide variety of components and technoogies that might be incorporated into a given OSDS. However, most systems wi be comprised of a septic tank, a distribution box and gravity trenches. Once a the system components are identified and ocated, it is important to draw a diagram as part of the inspection report that shows the ocation of each OSDS component reative to the buidings being served, property ines, decks, driveways, etc. ncude key distances, such as the distance from the house to the septic tank, from the septic tank to the distribution box, and the ength of trenches. The various types of OSDS components that an inspector is ikey to come across are discussed beow. Septic Tank The main purpose of the septic tank is to separate soids (sudge), scum (fats, ois, and grease), and non-biodegradabe materias from the wastewater effuent that wi be discharged to the soi treatment system. There are aso important chemica and bioogica actions that occur in the septic tank aiding in the utimate treatment of the waste. Studies have shown that propery functioning septic tanks aone are effective in reducing nitrogen eves by 10-20%. - ' Septic tanks for residentia use are generay 1,000 to 1,500 gaons, and shoud be sized such that the wastewater has a retention time in the tank of at east 2 days. Most tanks are constructed of concrete, but some may be pastic or fibergass. Prior to 1970 some septic tanks were stee or cinderbock. f you encounter a stee or cinderbock tank it shoud be considered "unacceptabe" due to its age and ikeihood of not being water tight or structuray sound. The tanks shoud be equipped with baffes or "T" fittings to sow the movement of wastewater from the inet to the outet. The tank may aso have two compartments to further aid in the separation of the wastewater. Faiure to propery maintain a septic tank by removing the sudge, scum, and other non-biodegradabe waste may ead to eary faiure of the soi treatment system. Exampes of a one-compartment, and two-compartment septic tank are shown beow. 15

16 -, Exampe Cross-Section of a One-Compartment Septic Tank with Wa Baffes net Baffe Liquid --, --, First Compartment Second Compartment Exampe Cross Section of a Two-Compartment Septic Tank with "T" Baffes, The septic tank shoud be ocated and the access covers excavated if necessary. t is critica that \ you have access to the inside of the tank for the inspection. Finding the tank can be difficut for some properties. The tank wi typicay be downgradient from the house. f not immediatey --i evident, going inside the house and ocating where the sewer ine eaves the house wi give you a genera direction of the tank ocation. Then ook for other cues: manhoe covers, 6 inch inspection ports or, a ow spot, ush grass, eary snow met. t wi generay be between 10 and -, 20 feet from the house. Sometimes, owner wi use andscaping to hide OSDS components. At the end of the inspection you wi want to return the yard to cose to its origina condition, so if you have to do any digging, you shoud take care to save the sod and sois on a tarp or piece of pastic. 1 16

17 \ Distribution Box or Seria Distribution n Maryand, gravity-fed onsite sewage disposa systems typicay utiize two means of wastewater distribution: parae distribution; and seria distribution. A distribution box ( commony caed the "D-box") is used in parae distribution to eveny distribute effuent that comes from the septic tank to the drainfied. Trenches shoud be of equa ength if a distribution box was used. Crossover pipes are typicay used to achieve seria distribution where septic tank effuent is oaded into one trench and fis that trench to a predetermined eve before passing through a reief ine to the succeeding trench. Diagram of Parae Distribution Using a Distribution Box and Trenches 17

18 Diagram of Cross-Over Pipes and Trenches -, A common probem with distribution boxes is that they may become out-of-eve over time assuming they are eve when instaed, thereby, causing a or most of the effuent to be directed to one of the trenches. These boxes can aso become deteriorated over time and susceptibe to water and root infitration. Therefore, they shoud be ocated and inspected. Some counties require an inspection port or ocator pipe attached to the D-box. D-boxes are typicay square or rectanguar concrete boxes that are inches wide. Verify that D-boxes have soid was and bottoms. Athough D-boxes need not be absoutey watertight, they shoud be constructed in such a way as to minimize infitration. f the D-box is fooded or there is evidence of sewage sudge at the bottom, this is another indication that the system has not been propery maintained. f you cannot /do not ocate these components as part of the inspection, be sure to specificay note this and discuss the potentia probems with the cient. t is highy recommended that every inspector have a device that can be used to find buried OSDS components and hep assess the integrity and functioning of the OSDS. f the component can not be found and inspected, it shoud be rated as "needs further evauation" f a hydrauic oading test is conducted where water is added to the system in a gravity distribution system, the distribution box or trenches shoud be opened to observe that water freey moves from one part of the system to another. Drainfied -; The drainfied (aso caed the eachfied, or fied system) is a genera term used to describe the soi absorption system where the sewage effuent is introduced into the subsurface. There are severa different designs used to discharge wastewater to the sois. n many homes constructed 18

19 1 from the 1950s to the 1980s, wastewater effuent eaving the septic tank was directed by gravity to one or more seepage pits (aso caed drywes). See diagram beow. Aternativey, and more commony instaed today, effuent eaving the septic tank is directed by gravity to a series of atera perforated pipes that discharge the effuent horizontay over a arger area. See diagrams showing distribution with atera drainfieds above. t is important to note that many seepage pits (drywes) were instaed deeper into rockier sois that in many cases today woud be considered unacceptabe for new construction. -, Cross Section of a Septic Tank and Seepage Pit (Drywe) n areas where the soi is more restrictive (i.e., sowy permeabe), or has other site imitations, the fied system may be pressurized. Commony used pressurized designs incude sand mounds, at grade mounds, ow-pressure dosing in trenches, or drip dispersa. These types of OSDS amost aways incorporate the use of a pump chamber or an advanced treatment unit (ATUs) to aerate the wastewater to further reduce the eves of tota suspended soids (TSS), biochemica oxygen demand (BOD). For these more compex systems, it is ikey that the oca environmenta heath department or permitting agency has pans showing the ayout and design of the system. f an inspector encounters a pressurized system and he/she is not famiiar with the design and specific techniques used to evauate the system, it is recommended that the inspector make a recommendation that the fied system "requires further evauation" by a quaified professiona. The diagram beow is a cross section of a sand mound soi absorption system incorporating a septic tank and pump chamber. ' 19

20 SEPTCAHK Diagram of Sand Mound OSDS Conveyance System 1 deay, the interior pumbing shoud be inspected (to the extent possibe) to verify that a the pumbing fixtures in the dweing are a discharging to the OSDS. t is common in some areas to have separate "gray water systems" for the aundry and/or kitchen waste that discharge to the surface or into a trench separate from the OSDS---the presence of a gray water system often means that the existing OSDS is hydrauicay unabe to hande this additiona oad. The discharge of gray water to the surface is not an acceptabe practice in Maryand and shoud be noted as "unacceptabe." The type of pumbing materia used for the wastewater system shoud aso be noted. Cast iron pipe corrodes sowy from the inside out and over time can restrict the fow of wastes eading to more frequent cogging and sewage back-ups. Orangeburg pipe (or fiber conduit) is bituminized fiber pipe made from ayers of wood pup and pitch pressed together. t was used from the 1860s to the 1970s when it was repaced by PVC. Orangeburg is no onger an acceptabe conduit to use for pumbing since it is reativey britte and susceptibe to coapsing. Simiary, presence of terra cotta pipe indicates a very od system that is susceptibe to eakage and coapse. Cean-Outs, nspection or Observation Pipes 1 1 During the site inspection it is ikey that the ocation of portions of the OSDS wi be evident at the surface by 6-inch inspection ports over the tanks, or 4 inch inspection/observation pipes in the drainfied. Cean-outs wi typicay be ocated between the house and the septic tank, or where the conveyance ine change direction. The inspection pipes are often ocated over septic tanks or seepage pits in oder systems. n some instances the trenches may be constructed with an observation pipe extending to the bottom of the trench at the tem1i.na end. Some counties require these observation pipes in trenches for new construction and or repairs. As discussed beow in the section caed 'Evauating the Drainfied," the observation pipes can be very hepfu in assessing the drainfied's functionaity. 20

21 Pump Tank f the fied system of the OSDS is pressurized, or if it is ocated at a higher eevation than the septic tank, there wi typicay be a pump tank (aso caed a ift station) immediatey foowing the septic tank or advanced treatment unit. As detaied in the diagram beow, the pump shoud be instaed on a 6-inch bock at a safe distance from the bottom of the tank so that it does not take in soids that may accumuate on the bottom of the tank, and wi be activated by a series of foats or sensors when the water eve in the pump tank reaches those eevations. There shoud aso be a high water aarm instaed on a separate circuit than the pump to aert the owner/occupant when the pump fais or is unabe to keep up with the voume of wastewater coming from the septic tank. f an inspector encounters a pump chamber and he/she is not famiiar with the design and specific techniques used to evauate the pump chamber, it is recommended that the inspector make a recommendation that the pump tank "needs further evauation" by a quaified professiona. Pump Tank Riser to surface To drainfied,...-, sand fiter, or mound From Septic Tank Reserve storage Dose Voume Aarm ON/OFF Redundant OFF Diagram 3 Diagram of a Typica Pump Chamber Aerobic Treatment Units Since the mid 1990's, the use of aerobic treatment units (ATUs) have been increasingy incorporated into the design of onsite sewage disposa systems in Maryand and throughout the country. Simpy put, an ATU is a device that incorporates the use of oxygen (air) in the wastewater treatment process to enhance the decomposition of the wastes beyond what woud typicay take pace using a standard septic tank. Other commony used names for these types of systems incude: advanced treatment units, sewage pre-treatment units, and package wastewater treatment pants. Unike a typica gravity septic system, a ATUs require a power source, and air suppy, and some may aso have pumps associated with them (see generic design beow). 21

22 -, Mechanica or Diffused Aeration nfuent~ Effuent -, Typica Aerobic Treatment Unit Design Beginning with the creation of the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) in 2004, Maryand initiated a --, state-wide effort to reduce the nitrogen discharges associated with municipa wastewater treatment pants as we as onsite sewage disposa systems. Since many ATUs are aso effective in reducing nitrogen in wastewater, BRF money was made avaiabe to upgrade existing septic systems with MOE approved ATUs. The A TUs that were approved by MOE were designated as BATs which stands for: "Best Avaiabe Technoogy" for removing nitrogen from an onsite sewage disposa system. --, There are over a dozen manufacturers that have approved BAT units for instaation in Maryand. Beginning January 1, 2013, state reguations require that a new construction to be served by an onsite sewage disposa system must incorporate a BAT unit in the system design. This manua wi not review a the types or configurations avaiabe. Some wi be discussed in cass. MOE's webpage has the current BAT technoogies isted. The state reguations aso require that a BAT units instaed sha be maintained and operated for the ife of the system by a certified maintenance provider. n areas of the state where property owners' are responsibe for maintaining their own BAT unit (most areas), the reguations require that the property owner must maintain a service contract with an MOE and vendor certified service provider and the owner sha ensure that each BAT system is inspected and has necessary operation and maintenance performed by an MOE and vendor certified service provider at a minimum of once per year. What is important for an inspector to understand is how to identify when a BAT ( or A TU) is being used and how to address such a system in the inspection report. n genera, the manufacturer's and vendors of proprietary BATs DO NOT want inspectors to evauate the BAT units uness the inspector is both an MOE and vendor approved certified 0/M service provider. The inspector shoud be abe to determine the manufacturer make and mode by asking the property owner, requesting records from the county, and/or by product identification tags or insignia ocated on the contro pane or other system components. t is recommended that at a minimum your inspection report shoud incude the foowing anguage: 22

23 "This OSDS incudes the use of an ATU or BAT. t is recommended and in some cases required by State and or County reguation to have a service contract with an MDE and vendor certified 0/M service provider. For BAT units, the owner sha ensure that each BAT system is inspected and has necessary operation and maintenance performed by an MDE and vendor certified 0/M service provider at a minimum of once per year." The seer may have a copy of the current service contract and ast service inspection report. Otherwise, the vendor or certified person responsibe for doing the service shoud be abe to send you the most recent service inspection report and or verify the unit has been serviced propery at the necessary frequency. This next part is for genera information ony, as far as the forma inspection is required, the instructions above are sufficient. f the unit has a contro box there shoud be power to it, and no aarms going off. (Sometimes homeowners wi tum off the power to these units.) A units have some sort of air suppy. A units have a trash trap which shoud be sudge judged ony by an MDE and vendor certified 0/M provider to see if pumping is needed. f pumping is needed, it must be done by a vendor certified and propery trained pumper. Care must be taken when pumping these units, as the instructions are specific to the manufacturer, and if the pumper is not knowedgeabe about the unit, they can actuay damage interna components. The aerobic portion of the unit shoud not have a septic sme. t shoud be odoress or musty smeing and be a shade of brown, ike coffee with cream. f this portion of the unit is back and smey, the microbes have died indicating that the system is not operating as designed. The effuent stream after the carifier shoud be cear and odoress, occasionay it may be stained "tea" coored but there shoud be no visibe sediment. The number of different manufacturers wi make it impossibe for any one inspector to be knowedgeabe in a the systems on the market. You shoud become famiiar with them, but rey on the MDE and vendor certified 0/M service provider to give fina OK as to the functioning of the system. Cesspoos (an OSDS without a Septic Tank) A cesspoo is essentiay a seepage pit or drywe without the benefit of a septic tank ahead of it to separate the soids, scum and non-biodegradabe materia. The raw wastewater is discharged into a subsurface structure typicay constructed of a porous masonry wa, through which the iquid seeps into the surrounding soi. This method of sewage disposa was generay not used after about 1950, so any cesspoos sti in use are very od. When encountered, cesspoos shoud be considered "unacceptabe" as an OSDS. They were not designed or constructed to propery treat the wastewater, and are considered by EPA and MDE to be a threat to groundwater quaity. f a property is served by a cesspoo, the oca county heath environmenta heath department or permitting agency shoud be contacted to determine an appropriate repair. t is not acceptabe to recommend that a septic tank or BAT unit is instaed ahead of the cesspoo. 23

24 Hoding Tanks n rare instances, dweings may utiize a sewage hoding tank for their wastewater. A hoding tank is not considered an OSDS (as there is no discharge permitted onsite) but rather a watertight storage tank for sewage which must be reguary pumped and disposed by a icensed iquid waste hauer. Hoding tanks must be permitted by the oca heath department and a hoding tank agreement must be recorded in and records for the property. Hoding tanks are generay considered a "ast resort" option for management of sewage where an onsite repair has been determined to be not feasibe. f a hoding tank is encountered, it generay means that this site is extremey imited for onsite sewage disposa. Hoding tanks shoud be inspected to verify they are watertight, have not been iegay modified, have an aarm, and a current service contract with a icensed iquid waste hauer. nspecting the Septic Tank The septic tank hods a weath of information about the operation & performance of the OSDS. For a proper inspection of the septic tank, the inspector needs to either gain access through the manhoe or remove the id so that you he readiy see the inside of the tank and the inspect the baffes. Looking at the tank through a 6-inch inspection pipe even with a mirror wi typicay not be sufficient. Most septic tanks wi have a manhoe access at both ends of the tank. n some cases, there wi be a manhoe in the center with smaer access ids on either end to access the inet and outet pipes. --, -, t shoud be noted if the id risers, or inspection ports have evidence of above the norma operating eves such as scum or toiet paper. f present, this is a cear sign of periodic hydrauic overoading of the system. The septic tank inspection ports manhoe covers, risers and id shoud be aso carefuy inspected to verify that they are structuray sound and watertight. Covers on inspection ports shoud be tight-fitting and preferaby threaded. The key to an acceptabe tank is water tightness. Watertight means that water is not aowed to fow in or out of the tank other than through the designed penetrations (inet and outet pipes). Water tightness is critica to septic tank and fied system performance. Excess water entering the tank from surface runoff can resut in inadequatey treated effuent entering the soi treatn1ent system and causing premature faiure. Untreated wastewater entering the soi from a eaky septic tank presents risks to human heath and the environment. The size construction of the septic tank shoud noted in the inspection report. As stated previousy, stee or cinderbock (homemade) tanks shoud be rated as "unacceptabe." -, The inspector shoud aso take note of the andscape position of the septic tank. The ground around the tank shoud be soping away from the tank manhoes and observation ports so that storm water is not directed onto the tank or the ground graded in such a way that water ponds on top of the tank. --, 24

25 The inspector shoud aso note the depth of the tank. Tan.ks with excess of 3 feet of cover may not be designed to hande the weight of the soi and shoud have a traffic bearing id. They are aso more difficut to service and inspect. Tan.ks instaed in driveways shoud be fitted with traffic-bearing ids and covers. f there is no manhoe access to grade is it a good idea to recommend that one is instaed for future access and for proper ceaning. The instaation of the manhoe riser to the tank must be made propery so it is aso watertight. n some cases, these types of modifications wi require a permit. -, SAFETY NOTE: nspection of a septic tank, pre-treatment unit or pumping chamber shoud never invove actuay getting inside the tank uness the person has been trained in confined space entry procedures and is equipped with the necessary breathing apparatus and safety harness. The fumes inside the tank coud be fata! With proper access to the tank, and the use of mirrors, and/or a fashight, you shoud be abe to perform a proper inspection of the tank without having to get inside the tank. -, Prior to digging and/or uncovering the tank make note of any sewage odors in the vicinity of the septic tank. A propery designed and instaed onsite sewage disposa system shoud be vented through the vent stack with the rest of the house pumbing. f odors are present, it coud mean a cogged vent pipe. Evauating Septic Tank Performance Once the inspector has gained access to septic tank, the operating eve of the tank shoud be noted. Norma operating eve shoud be just beow the tank outet. f the water eve is above this, it indicates that there is some type of backup in the fied system. This can be the resut of a cogged pipe or an indication that the entire system itsef is hydrauicay overoaded. f the operating eve is significanty beow the tank outet, this is an indication that the septic tank is eaking and is not watertight ( or that the tank has been recenty pumped). Look to see if there is evidence of foating materia that doesn't beong in the tank, such as denta foss, excessive hair, feminine hygiene products such as tampons, condoms, cigarette butts, or baby wipes. The presence of these items indicates that the users have not propery cared for the system and coud be a potentia cause of premature system faiure. --, Prior to pumping the tank, it is recommended that a Sudge Judge or simiar device be used to retrieve a cross-section of the tank from the bottom to the operating water eve. n a propery functioning system, the tank shoud deveop three separate ayers-a scum ayer on top, a reativey cear section in the midde, and a sudge ayer on the bottom. f these three separate ayers are not present then the system is not operating the way it shoud. When wastewater doesn't form these ayers it is often because some type of chemica had been added that has kied the bacteria or possiby because the outet baffe is missing. 25

26 --, t The Scum Layer The scum ayer shoud not be excessivey thick and shoud be at east 3 inches from the bottom of the outet baffe to ensure that scum is not eaving the tank. The scum ayer shoud aso not be higher than the outet baffe. Excessive scum in the tank may mean that the tank needs to be pumped, or that the wastewater has high eves of grease or soap. For systems serving commercia estabishments such as restaurants, it is recommended and in some cases required that a grease trap is instaed ahead of the septic tank. The Sudge Layer The top of the sudge shoud not be within 12 inches of the bottom of the outet. Aow time for the sudge to sette in the Sudge Judge sampe before measuring this distance. Verify that the sudge is setting we and that there is not excessive movement of sudge out of the tank. Sudge wi not sette propery if the water in the tank is turbuent. Turbuent conditions coud be from a pump in the basement adding high voumes of water, "stirring up" the wastewater or there may simpy be too much water entering the tank over a given time. f the wastewater fow from the house to the tank has increased since the tank was designed and constructed, the tank may not be arge enough to hande the amount of wastewater entering it. Users of the system may be abe to reduce their water use to improve the performance of the system. A genera rue of thumb is that if the combined thickness of the scum ayer and sudge ayer is greater than 30% of the tota operating depth than the tank needs to be pumped. nspecting the Distribution Box To assess the distribution of effuent to the drainfied, the distribution box needs to be ocated and uncovered. The physica integrity of the box shoud be noted aong with any evidence of soids, water or root infitration. Specia care shoud be taken to determine if the ines eaving the D-box are eve or whether certain ines are receiving most or a of the waste. Any distribution box found to be out-of-eve shoud be rated as "unacceptabe." Correction of this situation is typicay straight forward and reativey inexpensive. n some cases, individua ines may be purposefuy bocked off to "rest" that fied component. f this situation is encountered, try to ascertain when/why that fied component was bocked off. Theoreticay, faied fied components that are aowed to "rest" for severa years may be put back into use, however it is generay beieved that the ife of that fied component wi never return to its origina capacity. Conducting a Hydrauic Loading Test -, Another method to hep determine if the OSDS is operating propery is to conduct a hydrauic oading test. The primary purpose of this test is to determine whether the effuent is fowing freey from the tank, to the distribution box and to the fied system, and that the receiving soi can accept an expected peak oad without backing up. Nationay, there are various phiosophies 26

27 and methodoogies on how to conduct a hydrauic oading test. Depending on the situation, there are three genera approaches recommended by this course: 1. House is Occupied - n this scenario, one can assume that the OSDS is receiving daiy sewage fows, but depending on the actua number of peope in the house, the system may or may not be receiving daiy fows that approximate the origina capacity of the system. To test the system, use the foowing formua as a rue of thumb: Tota Hydrauic Load = Tota Design Fow (number of bedrooms x 150 gaons/day)- (number of occupants x 150 gaons/day). So, for a 4 bedroom home with two occupants, the Tota Hydrauic Load woud be 600 gpd (4 x 150 gpd)- 300 (2 x 150) = 300 gaons. f the same house was occupied by 4 peope a nomina amount of water shoud be used just to verify that the effuent is fowing freey through the system. 2. House is Vacant - if the house is vacant for more than a week, it is recommended that a more robust evauation of the hydrauic performance of the system be performed. deay, you shoud charge the system with the peak design fow (number of bedrooms x 150 gpd). However, it may aso be reasonabe to oad the system with an amount of water that wi approximate that projected future usage. So if it is a 5 bedroom house with 3 peope moving in, a 450 gaon hydrauic oad test may sufficient. f there are other known issues with a site (documented probems with the system that were never repaired), a sufficient hydrauic oading test might require mutipe days of testing. 3. OSDS is Pressurized - Pressurized fied systems are typicay instaed on sites that have imiting site conditions. Specia care shoud be taken to determine if a hydrauic oading test is necessary and if so, what the appropriate voume shoud be. Do not perform a hydrauic oading test on a pressurized system uness you are experienced and understand how the system was designed. Regarding of which approach is empoyed, it is in1portant to discuss your pans for conducting a hydrauic oading test with the property owner. You shoud ascertain if the we onsite is a owyieding we. f there are concerns that the hydrauic oading test wi put too much strain on the we, arrangements for hauing water in may be necessary. Water used in the hydrauic oading shoud be non-chorinated water, free from contaminants- septage from another site shoud NOT be used for this purpose. The water can be introduced into the tank outet pipe, at a cean out after the tank, or in the distribution box with a hose with dedicated backfow prevention. Before running the test, note if there is any ponding in the observation pipes in the trenches (if present), and measure the depth to ponding. -, During the course of the test, ook for evidence of back up in the distribution box, septic tank observation pipes or overfows to the surface. f the system incorporates a pump, make sure to run the water unti the pump runs competey through its cyce of one dose voun1e. f the septic tank has been recenty pumped, the water wi need to be added into the effuent ine eaving the septic tank. The resuts of the test shoud be evauated in consideration with the type of trench 27

28 - distribution design and any recent heavy water use. A hydrauic oad test is not recommended if the fied system is aready observed to be faiing to the surface. Pumping the Septic Tank To propery inspect the tank integrity and to ceary see the baffes, the septic tank needs to be pumped during the inspection uness there is cear evidence that the system is unacceptabe and pumping the tank wi ony be an additiona expense on top of what it wi eventuay take to correct the probem. f the tank is brand new and ony has been in use a short period of time, pumping may not be necessary but this is a rare occurrence. Once the tank is pumped, ook to verify that there is no water entering the tank from the outet pipe. f water is fowing back into the tank, this woud be strong evidence that the system is hydrauicay overoaded or at a minimum that the conveyance ine to the drainfied is cogged. Aso, ook to verify that the concrete was of the tank are watertight. Pay particuar attention to seams in the was. Tanks with mid-wa seams have a high probabiity of eaking at the joint. These joints shoud have a tongue-and-groove connection and a mastic seaer on them. Aso check the tank bottom. This may seem pretty straightforward, but many oder tanks may have foors that were not propery constructed and are not watertight. Next, inspect a of the penetrations incuding inet, outet manhoe riser id of the manhoe, and inspection pipes. A of these shoud be watertight. Roots in the tank are strong evidence that that the tank is not watertight. Another sign of a tank that is not water-tight woud be water tricking into the tank through the tank seams or sides. f water is fowing in from the inet pipe, and you confirm no one was using water inside the house, this may be an indication of a eaking fixture inside the house. To assess whether the man1oe risers are watertight, run a garden house around the outside of the manhoe for severa minutes and see if any water eaks into the tank around the manhoe. ~ Aso at this time, both the inet and outet pipes shoud be evauated to be sure they are free from obstruction. Check to see that the tank baffes (aso referred to as "T"fittings or dip pipes) are in pace and working propery. Baffes begin the setting process by sowing the fow of wastewater down, keeping the scum inside the tank and ensuring that effuent eaving the tank comes from the cear iquid effuent. f the baffes are missing or not instaed property, the drainfied wi be compromised. There are two basic types of baffes: pastic pipe or sanitary tees and wa baffes. The advantage of wa baffes is that they are buit-in and have a arger space to aow setting to occur. However, either type of baffe wi work adequatey as ong as they are in pace. f there is a wa baffe verify that there is at east 4 inches between the inet pipe and the baffe to aow the free fow of both water and soids in the water. Note the depths of the baffes: the inet baffe shoud be at east six inches deep. The outet baffe shoud be drawing from the cear portion of the septic tank typicay about 40% of the depth. f the tank s function is to hande excessive suds or grease, the depth of the outet baffe may be owered so that the tank functions as a grease trap. 28

29 Check the structura integrity of the tank. The id shoud be strong enough to support the weight of a 250-b. man. f the id is at the soi surface, strength is critica. Some concrete tank ids have two different thicknesses to hod it in pace which is a good idea but if the top id is too thin probems occur. Was must be strong enough to maintain a saturated soi overburden. Refer back to the origina design of the tank for verification if necessary. f the tank is instaed deeper than it is designed to hande, (usuay maximum of 3' in Maryand) this condition shoud be noted. Check for setting of soi around the tank. Depressions in the soi at the edges of the tank can ead to ponding of rainwater, foowed by infitration. Evauating the Drainfied f the fied components or soi treatment system is overoaded, effuent may come to the surface, or may back up into the house. f the effuent is surfacing, the fied system is unacceptabe. When ooking for evidence of a surface faiure, keep in mind that peope can be creative at hiding it. Odor is one good indicator, and so is spongy ground around the drainfied. Check for water oving pants or a change in vegetation or other andscaping that may be hiding surfacing effuent. f an OSDS is ocated in cose proximity to a stream, or in a remote area, ook down gradient from the system for overfow pipes to the surface. Dye testing is a too to possiby identify a faiing system, but dye testing is ony recommended if the site inspection indicates an unacceptabe discharge ocation (i.e., visibe pipe discharge to the surface or surface water body). Dye wi generay not be effective if the effuent must trave through the soi system before surfacing since the dye itsef may adsorb to the soi and/or may take a ong time to migrate to the surface. f the property has a hoding tank, what wi a dye test te you? f observation pipes are present, the iquid eve in gravity fed trenches and seepage pits shoud be checked to ascertain what percentage of the system is being used. This indicates how we the system is performing under current fow conditions and gives an indication of the abiity of the system to hande additiona fow. t can aso be of vaue from a troubeshooting standpoint. For exampe, if ony part of the system is receiving effuent and it is overoaded, it means that the distribution box is out of eve or there is a bockage in the conveyance ine. - When evauating the sewage eve in a seepage pit ( drywe), it is important to note the eve of the sewage reative to the inet pipe eevation. For instance, if a drywe is 12 feet deep and the sewage eve is measured to be 4 feet from the surface, one might concude that the drywe is "acceptabe" but if the inet pipe is 3 feet 10 inches feet beow surface, there is reay ony 2 inches of avaiabe capacity in the drywe and an increase in daiy water usage might quicky resut in a sewage back-up for a new homeowner. Another potentia concern is a drywe that is constructed into bedrock (i.e. sewage is being discharged directy into bedrock with itte or no treatment of the sois). This situation may be difficut to indentify if you do not have knowedge of how the depth and type of sois on the property. Consut the oca permitting agency shoud questions arise. 29

30 Landscape Position Fied system shoud not be ocated in excessivey steep sopes (>25% for subsurface trenches, and> 12% for sand mounds). f system is on a steep sope, inspect the area at the owest portion of the system for seepage or break-out of sewage from the ground surface. f there is evidence of sinkhoes or rock outcroppings around the fied system, sewage coud be discharging to ground water with itte or no treatment. f shaow rock is a concern, it is recommended that the oca Environmenta Heath Department or permitting agency be consuted. Pressurized OSDS \ n some pressure distribution systems, the ends of the ateras shoud be uncovered, or if access is provided, the squirt height (dista head) can be checked with effuent being pumped to the system. Squirt height wi indicate whether the pump continues to deiver effuent at the rate needed or as an indicator of perforation or atera pugging. There shoud usuay be a minimum of 2 ft of vertica dista head as measured from the atera turn-up furthest from the pump. This test is not recommended if you are not aready trained. f an inspector encounters a pressurized system and he/she is not famiiar with the design and specific techniques used to evauate the system, it is recommended that the inspector make a recommendation that the system "needs further evauation" by a quaified professiona. WASTE _,. frow,- HOUSE BLOWER Evauating Pump Tanks The pump tank shoud be ocated and inspected in much the same way as the septic tank. First, evauate how wastewater is moving through the pump tank-effuent it shoud be entering the tank by gravity and there shoud be an inet baffe in pace. Check to see that the tank is watertight, and structuray sound. You shoud be abe to access the pump without having to enter the system. The pump shoud be eevated at east 6 inches off the bottom of the tank. 30

31 Eectrica connections shoud be watertight and free of corrosion and there shoud be a remote shut off for the pump. nadequate or questionabe eectrica work shoud be noted. There shoud be itte or no sudge moving into the pump tank. f there's excessive sudge in the pump tank or the first section of the trenches, there are probaby turbuent conditions in the septic tank, resuting in poor setting. Aarms and pumps shoud be checked that they turn on and off. This shoud be done manuay as we as with the foats to make sure that the foats are positioned correcty. The aarm needs to be on a separate eectrica circuit than the pump, so that if the pump trips the circuit breaker, the aarm shoud sti function. f the system is designed for effuent to drain back after pumping to a pressure distribution system, make sure that the drainage does not turn on the pump. This coud cause serious damage to the pump. f an inspector encounters a pump chamber and he/she is not famiiar with the design and specific techniques used to evauate the pump chamber, it is recommended that the inspector make a recommendation that the pump tank "needs further evauation" by a quaified professiona. Fina Report Preparation According to MDE, a proper OSDS inspection for property transfer must incude a fina inspection report with the foowing information: --, Compete ocation and address of the property. Date of Site nspection. Leve of occupancy at the time of the inspection. Site pan showing the ocation of septic system components reative to the buiding(s) that it serves (incuding approximate distances). Summary of information regarding the fie search, and homeowner interview and site inspection observations. Assessment of each component as to its functionaity and concusions as to whether any maintenance or repair to the OSDS is necessary or recommended. Notation to the effect that this inspection does not guarantee or certify the property functioning of the system for any period of time in the future. The attached form has been created to ensure that these minimum criteria are met. n addition, recognizing that not a systems wi require the same eve of inspection, the inspection form was not designed to be an "a incusive" form that shoud cover a types of OSDS. The ast page of the form incudes the nspection Concusions and Comments. This part of the inspection report is dedicated to concusions drawn on the condition of the septic tank, absorption system, and if appicabe, the ATU and/or pump tank. Each component shoud be reported as "acceptabe," "acceptabe with concerns," "unacceptabe" or "needs further evauation" based on the resuts of the inspection. f the system is functiona, but there is a defect, it shoud not be reported as acceptabe. A component that requires corrective action shoud be reported as unacceptabe. Recommendations for maintenance, repair or repacement -1 31

32 --, -- shoud be made at this time. Exampes of defects woud incude backup of wastewater into the house, discharge or ponding water to the surface of the ground or surface waters, odors, missing or deteriorated baffes, iquid eve in the tank above or beow the outet, or cracks in tank or id, pumps or aarms not working propery. t is important to be knowedgeabe of OSDS reguations and pumbing codes and to report if the OSDS does not conform to any state or oca requirement. Company Discaimer This portion of the report pertains to system performance at the time of inspection and under cunent conditions of use. Fi in the banks provided for company name. This statement shoud hep reduce iabiity if the inspection has been performed with these procedures and standards. -, dentify nspection Company Compete the company information and sign as the individua who has taken the MDE approved training and certify that the inspection was conducted according to these standards. ncude a copy of your certificate with report. Deiver Fina Report to the Cient Submit the form, together with any written report comments, other inspection materias, photos, and site maps to the cient. Make sure you know your state and oca requirements and responsibiities. n Maryand it is not required for the inspector to report a faied septic system. Make sure any comments made reate to ony what was observed. For instance, if the soi absorption system coudn't be ocated, then it shoud be noted as "needs further evauation." 32

33 - 1 MOE Recommended Onsite Sewage Disposa System (OSDS) nspection Form to Conduct a Proper nspection for Property Transfers in Maryand Genera nformation Property Address City State Zip Code County Date and Time of nspection nspector Name Company Phone Number emai Property Type Age of Dweing Number of Bedrooms Occupied? f Vacant, How ong? Renta? Number of Peope Moving n? Homeowner nterview Conducted? OSDS Records Requested from County? Were Records Avaiabe? OSDS History How ong Has Resident Lived There? Number of Peope n Dweing now Age of OSDS? Any History Of Sewage Probems? f Yes, Detai Probems Beow -~ Pumping Frequency Any Repairs to OSDS? f Yes, Detai Repairs (ncude Dates) Last Date Pumped ~,..., 1 OSDS Components D Septic Tank Size Construction D Pre-Treatment Unit Make Mode D Pump Chamber Size Construction D Grease Trap Size Construction Conveyance System Type: D PVC D Cast ron DTerra Cotta D Orangeburg D Effuent Fiter D Peat Fiter D Sand Fiter D Distribution Box D Dropboxes (Number) D Aternating Vave D Trenches (Number) D Headworks Box (for drip tubing) Length Width Depth D Seepage Pits/Drywes (Number) Diameter Depth D Low Pressure Pipe D Drip Tubing D At-Grade Mound D Sand Mound D Other

34 nspection and Observations Was Septic Tank Located? f Pre-Treatment Unit, Note Current Service Provider Describe Access to Septic Tank Depth of Tank Beow Grade Liquid Leve in Tank (beow norma/norma/above norma) Any Evidence of Eevated Leves of Sewage n the Past? Was Sudge Sampe Coected? f Yes, Tota Liquid Depth Sudge Depth Scum Depth During Septic Tank Pump Out was any Fow Back Observed from Fied System? After Pump Out, s Structura ntegrity of the Tank nterior Acceptabe? Presence of net Baffe Verified and Condition Acceptabe? Presence of Outet Baffe Verified and Condition Acceptabe? Pumping Chamber Observations (if Present) --, Was Distribution Box Located? Distribution box Excavated or Located by Video Camera? (Circe one) Does the distribution of effuent appear to be equa? Was Soi Absorption System Located? Was the Soi Absorption System Excavated or Probed or Videoed? (Circe One) Are Observation Ports Present/ Functiona? Soi Absorption System Observations Was Hydrauic Load Test Performed? f Yes, Voume of Water ntroduced to System Hydrauic Load Test Observations Were A Pumbing Fixtures and Appiances Verified to be Pumbed to the OSDS? Other Observations 1

35 --, OSDS Layout Show a diagram of the OSDS ayout reative to the house. ncude we ocation, street ocation, driveway and other pertinent site features as we as a OSDS piping and components. ndicate distances from the house and between system components. i --, \ Findings and Comments System Component Condition Comments Septic Tank/ Pre- D Acceptabe Treatment Unit D Acceptabe with concerns D Unacceptabe D Needs Further Evauation Pump Tank Distribution Box Soi Absorption System Other: D Acceptabe D Acceptabe with concerns D Unacceptabe D Needs Further Evauation D Acceptabe D Acceptabe with concerns D Unacceptabe D Needs Further Evauation D Acceptabe D Acceptabe with concerns D Unacceptabe D Needs Further Evauation D Acceptabe D Acceptabe with concerns D Unacceptabe D Need Further Evauation

36 Additiona Comments attest that the information contained herein and my assessment is honest, thorough, and, to my knowedge, correct. Furthermore, have competed an MOE approved course in the proper inspection procedures and have fuy appied the standards of practice taught in the course during this inspection. THS NSPECTON REPORT NDCATES THE PRESENT CONDTON OF THE PRVATE ON-STE 1 SUBSURFACE SEWAGE DSPOSAL SYSTEM BASED ON RECOMMENDED NSPECTON PROCEDURES OUTLNED N THS REPORT. THE RESULTS OF THS NSPECTON DOES NOT GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY FUTURE PERFORMANCE. The recipient of this report shoud discuss any deficiencies found by this inspection with the nspector. MOE Certified nspector Signature...,