Blog Post

How to Tell If You Can Install a Septic System

Admin • Feb 28, 2020
Wooden Home — Grantville, PA — Walters Environmental Services
Before purchasing a lot, consider the property's access to a sewer system — or its lack thereof. Figuring out if the land will need a septic system or alternative wastewater management can make a huge difference in what you can do with the property. Here are a few ways to determine if your land will need a septic system or an alternative wastewater management system.

Does the Property Have Any Access to Municipal Sewer Lines?

If the property has no access to municipal sewer services, then you will need a septic system. You can figure out if this is the case by asking the seller. Obtaining plans, blueprints, or property records can also help you ascertain if the land can access the city sewer system.
A property surrounded by other buildings or dwellings can give you the opportunity to ask others if they're using a septic system or the sewer system. Generally, the more buildings around your property, the higher the chance you will have access to town sewers.
By contrast, if the lot contains a lot of acreage, sits outside the town limits, or is in an unpopulated area, you will likely need a septic system. Town sewers exist to serve a populace, so they're not usually found in sparsely populated areas.

Does the Property Have Public or Private Road Access Issues?

Can you reach that vacant land from a public road? Does the land sit behind property owned by someone else? Access issues can limit whether you can connect to public utilities. For example, if you must traverse private roads to reach the property, then sewer lines must also do the same.
Towns will not typically build out too far if most of the lines must go through private property. Equally, building out too far from the lot to try to reach the municipal lines can come with heavy costs and considerable construction issues. The town may not even allow it, and you probably wouldn't want to attempt it.
For a landlocked property, you may have to negotiate an easement with your neighbor. For some things, such as installing a power line, easement negotiations can go smoothly. However, asking your neighbor to allow you to run a sewer line through their property will come with far more red tape, contractual obligations, and other issues.
A septic system works as a viable solution to access issues. Some public and private access issues can make the need for a septic system necessary, rather than just an option.

Does the Property Have the Permissions for Septic System Installation?

Various types of septic systems exist, but many jurisdictions have strict laws and rules regarding them. For example, the state of Pennsylvania maintains statewide regulations for septic systems. In addition, local municipalities, boroughs, and townships have their own regulations.
Each individual town may have requirements that limit the type of septic system you can utilize, where you can place it, and how you install it on the property. For this reason, you should always seek information from the local government office in charge of septic system oversight in the specific town or municipality the vacant property sits in.
You may even find the land cannot have a septic system at all and must utilize an alternative system. Some situations that can lead to an outright refusal for septic system installation can include:
  • Not enough space to accommodate the system.
  • No viable locations that aren't too close to water sources or other properties.
  • Land fails soil testing with no soil remediation possible.
  • Poor site conditions with no remediation possible.
In most cases, obtaining a permit to build a septic system cannot happen if the land fails soil testing. The test, also known as a perc test, will check the soil's drainage rate. Septic systems require proper leech field drainage to work.
If the property's drainage rate doesn't meet the town's requirements, then you cannot install a septic system. This doesn't mean you cannot build on the property at all, but you can't build anything someone might live or work in.
Alternative systems can still work, but you must speak with the town health department to figure out what you can do. In some cases, you can try having the soil tested elsewhere on the property. Excavation and other work on the property can often help to overcome drainage issues as well.
If you find the information provided by the municipality incomprehensible, then look for further clarifying information through online searches and question-asking. You should always ask a professional septic service provider that knows the local laws and regulations.
At Walters Environmental Services, we offer professional septic system services, including perc testing, system design, and excavation. If you're considering a piece of property or already made the purchase, contact us to figure out what septic solution will work best for your needs.
Share by: