BackBuilding Additions/Soil Testing Procedure Guidance for Property Served By Septic Sysytem
CHESPROCOTT HEALTH DISTRICT
1247 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT 06410 203-272-2761
BUILDING ADDITIONS AND CONVERSIONS,
INCLUDING GARAGES/ACCESSORY STRUCTURES/SWIMMING POOLS
Before Chesprocott Health District can approve an addition or conversion, or a garage, an accessory structure, or a swimming pool, to a house served by a septic system, a determination must be made as to whether, after the addition, the lot can meet all the requirements of the Public Health Code. A fee will be charged for the review.
Situation A:
There is an adequate plot plan and soil test data on file at Chesprocott.
1. If the addition is to have foundation drains, it must be located a minimum of 25 ft. from the well and septic system.
2. If the addition will not have footing drains, it must be located a minimum of 15 ft. from the septic system. A deck or 3-season room with no full frost wall foundation can be located as close as 5 ft. from the septic system.
3. The plot plan must be reviewed to determine whether minimum leaching system spread requirements can be met.
Situation B:
There is no plot plan or soil test information on file to demonstrate there is adequate room on the lot for a septic system meeting code requirements. A soil test is required (see procedures below).
1. Prior to the soil test, a sketch should be submitted to Chesprocott showing as accurately as possible, the:
A. Lot dimensions
B. House location with proposed addition highlighted
C. Well location
D. Septic system location
E. Attached note with existing number of bedrooms and proposed number of bedrooms
Situation C:
The house is served by a septic system but public sewer is available. In this case, soil testing will not be required, but confirmation of required setbacks must be reviewed.
Procedure for Soil Testing the Lot
1. Select location minimum 75 ft. from any well where additional leaching area could be added if necessary. Suggest you discuss the location with Chesprocott when sketch of addition is submitted; or you can also discuss depth of perc hole with sanitarian.
2. Dig a deep pit in that location with a backhoe - minimum 7 ft. deep or to shallower bedrock. Approximately 5 ft. from the pit, dig a perc hole 36" deep with a post hole digger - no more than 12" diameter. Additional shallower or deeper percs may be required after the pit is examined. Fill this perc hole with 12" of water on the morning of the test or a minimum of 2 hours before Chesprocott is scheduled to arrive. Provide a 5-gallon bucket of water for each perc test.
Once Chesprocott Health District has determined the percolation rate, the number of bedrooms, the pit data and the slope of the land, a decision will be made as to whether there is sufficient suitable area on the lot to install a septic system of the required size and specifications. An area is not suitable if there is less than 2 ft. of naturally occurring soil over ledge, or less than 18" of naturally occurring soil over the water table or if the soil is impervious.
Chesprocott will not necessarily require an addition to the septic system unless:
a. The existing system is extremely undersized.
b. The existing system is failing.
c. The existing system must be moved to allow area for the building addition.
(Rev. 1/03