Proper Steps for Septic Installation Permits

 

Any house that is not within 300’ of a pubic sewer is required to have an onsite sewage system as a method of waste disposal and wastewater treatment. The first step in acquiring a permit for new construction is to complete an application at the Health Department. There is a $25.00 fee for a residential application. An application can be done by the owner, contractor, or an authorized agent. The application requires a name, current address, phone number, site location, number of bedrooms, baths, type of construction and number of occupants. Once the application is completed, an appointment will be made for an Environmental Health Specialist to make a site assessment of the proposed location. The location should be cleared of any growth that would interfere with the ability to assess the area’s topography. No excavation or stump removal should be done. It is the owner/agents responsibility to obtain a Registered Soil Scientist to perform a soil test on the site at the time of the site assessment. If the EHS, Soil Scientist, and owner/agent can agree on an onsite location, the location should be clearly identified in order to protect it from any construction activities or other source of damage.

 

When a copy of the soil report is received at the Health Department, the size and type of onsite system will be determined according to Indiana Rule 410 IAC 6-8.1. These specifications are then sent to the applicant. The applicant must then contract an installer that is registered in Jackson County to lay out the proposed system and to fill out a design submittal form. The installer must submit their proposal to the Jackson County Health Dept. for approval. When the onsite system is approved, the applicant will be notified that a permit is ready to pick-up. A copy of the house plan and a copy of the property’s deed and/or other legal description must be furnished before the permit is released. A permit is $50.00 or $75.00, depending on the type of system. A permit is valid for two (2) years from the day of issue.

 

An onsite sewage system permit is required before a building permit will be issued.

 

A permit is also required to re-connect a new house to an existing onsite system, to repair a failing onsite system, or to replace any component of the onsite system.

 

It is important to note that Indiana Rule 410 IAC 6-8.1 was effective 12/21/1990. Before that time, there was no standard for onsite sewage systems in Indiana. If you have or are buying a house that is over 20 years old, chances are good that the septic system is undersized or non-compliant. No failing septic system is ‘grandfathered’ under 410 IAC 6-8.1.

 

It should also be noted that all waste produced in the house must go into the onsite sewage system. Some years ago, a lot of houses separated ‘gray water’ (wash water) to a line that did not go into the septic tank. That is now considered a direct discharge and is in violation of 410 IAC 6-8.1 and Jackson County Code 3-42-2.

 

Onsite Sewage systems continue to be a very efficient method of waste disposal and treatment when properly designed, installed, and maintained. Proper operation of the system is the homeowner’s responsibility. Common sense about what is put into the system, water conservation, and spreading out water use to equalize the volume will help minimize problems. Having the tank pumped every three to five years is recommended to increase longevity. There has never been any proven advantage to the use of septic additives.

 

Please feel free to contact the Jackson County Health Dept. at 522-6474 about any septic system questions or visit www.ces.purdue.edu/HENV for more information.