Final Inspections

Inspection
Documentation
Operation Permits
&
As-Built Drawings
What You Need to Know

• Laws
• Rules
• Permit Conditions
• Procedures
 You Need to
• Know how much to inspect
• Review the Inspection Form
• Review the Improvement Permit
• Review the Authorization to Construct
• Review the building plan
• Be familiar with Local Policies
PIN ________________________________ PERMIT NUMBER _________________________

County Health Department Operation Permit

System Type: ___________________________________________________ Types V and VI systems expire in 5 years.
(In Accordance With Table Va ) Owner must contact health department 6 months prior to expiration for permit renewal.

_________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Owner’s Name Authorized State Agent

_________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
System Installer Date of Operation Permit Issuance
This system has been installed in compliance with applicable North Carolina General Statutes, Rules for Sewage Treatment and Disposal, and all
conditions of the Improvement Permit and Construction Authorization.

This Space Will be MUCH Larger and Will Contain the As-Built Drawing

PERMIT CONDITIONS:
I. Performance: System shall perform in accordance with Rule .1961.
II. Monitoring: As required by Rule .1961.
III. Maintenance: As required by Rule .1961. Other: __________________________________________________________
Subsurface system operator required? Yes _____ No _____
If yes, see attached sheet for additional operation conditions, maintenance and reporting.
IV. Operation: ______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
V. Other: ______________________________________________________________________________________
 Checklist for Inspection of the
Pump Tank and Pump Components
• Applicant/Owner:___________________________ Location:_____________________ Date of First Inspection:_____________
• System Installer:_______________________ System type:_______________________________

• PUMP TANK

• Manufacturer ________________________ PT- _______

• Capacity_____________ GAL. Strength Test______________ PSI
• Date ______________ Leak Test ________________
• Riser (min. 6 in.) _________ Riser Sealed Properly_________
• Gal. Per inch in Tank ________ One piece______ Two piece______

• PUMP REQUIREMENTS SUPPLY LINE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

• _____GPM @ _____’ TDH Size _______” NEMA 4X Box ____________
• Brand _________________ Length _____ Box 12” above land surface____
• Model _________________ PVC Unions ___ Box Adjacent to Pump Tank ___
• Alarm Audible __________ PVC Ball Valve ___ Piggyback Plug_______
• Alarm Visible __________ PVC Check Valve___ Weatherproof Sealant________
• Float Tree _____________ Valves Accessible___ Pump Manually Operable_____
• Proper Dosing Vol.______ Antisiphon Hole____
• Draw Down in Inches ______
• Block for Pump (3” min.) _____
• Rope __________
Pump Tank Schematic
Review
Permit
 Be Thorough
• Remember: the system will be buried and
out of sight following the inspection

• This is your only chance to make it right

 Come
Prepared
 Bring your
engineer’s level
or transit
 As you drive
up, note
locations of
system,
facility, drive,
etc. relative to
one another
vs how shown
on the permit
Continue
visual
overview
as you
walk up
 Start at One End and Check
Through to the Other End

• Cross check the facility with the permits

• Building or House: check inside if

You have reasons to suspect problems
This is policy on all houses & buildings
Give
entire
system
a look
over
 Conduct a Systematic Inspection
• Tank
• Pretreatment
• Supply Lines
• Distribution System
• Disposal System
Treatment Media
Pipe
Grade
Length
 Septic Tank
• Note Tank ID & Manufacturer
• Verify liquid capacity
• Visually inspect exterior walls, lids, & tank
top for structural soundness, fit, & sealant
• Visually inspect interior walls, tank bottom,
& baffle wall for structural soundness, fit, &
sealant
Verify
Tank Size

Note Mfg
and Tank
ID#
Inspect
exterior
walls
 Note date of mfg
Check
Baffle
Opening
 Baffle
opening
not
 cleared
Inspect Baffle
Wall  Tee
&
Filter


Interior Seam 
 Septic Tank
• Check for any honeycombing or cracks
• Check pipe penetration points
• Check risers
• Check vent, filter, and tee
• Learn to use a rebound hammer and make
use of it!
• Record outlet elevation
 Risers
on tank
and
pump
tank
Inspect
Filter
Rebound
Hammer
Where to
Check
Concrete
Strength
What is
wrong
with this
picture?
 Supply Line

• Grade
• Material
• Diameter
• Distance from tank to drainfield/distribution
device

 Verify
Minimum
2’ from
Tank to D-
Box
Verify
grade
from
Tank to
D-Box
 There is No
maximum
distance from
tank to
distribution
device
 Distribution Device
• Is Type suitable ?
• On a level foundation?
• Watertight?
• Functions as designed?
• Pipe penetration points
• Distance to drainfield
Drop
Boxes
Demonstrate
Performance
 Verify
Fall to
trenches
Measure pipe
Check elevations
Calculate drop needed
to achieve required fall
(min ” per foot)
 Nitrification Field

• Number of Trenches
• Length of Trenches
• Trench Grade
 Verify
trench
lengths
with a
measuring
tape
Checking
Trench
Bottom
Grade
Verifying grade
prior to adding
aggregate
Installer
Setting
a Stand
Pipe
Using
Stand
Pipe
 Nitrification Field
• Trench Depth
• Trench Width
• Distance between Trenches
Checking
Trench
Depth
before
aggregate
is added
 Nitrification Field

• Aggregate depth
• Aggregate size
• Aggregate cleanliness
 Measure
aggregate
depth
Is there a
problem
with
leaving
the pipe
exposed?
Verify Size
and
cleanliness
 Nitrification Field
• StepDowns
Minimum 2’ undisturbed soil
Proper rise over stepdown
Solid pipe
Elevations (Compare to tank outlet elevation)
Improperly
dug
Stepdown
 Measure & Record

• System location
• Reference points
• Setbacks
 Setbacks
• Distance from system to well(s)
• Distance from building to
Septic tank
Drainfield
• Distance to property line(s)
• All other .1950 setbacks met
Setback
to PL
Distance
from
home to
trench
Measure to
fixed
reference
points.

What would
have been a
better
reference
point in this
case??
Can you find
the problem
here?
 Why we need as-built drawings:
These two installers have spent over
an hour looking for the d-box.
 Notice Other Factors/Changes
• Have there been changes in the facility
design?
Number of bedrooms
Square footage of building

• Have there been changes in the location of

other things?
House
Drive
Well
 Notice Other Factors/Changes
• Are there changes in the grading or
landscaping?
Will water be diverted onto system?
Is the wrong vegetation being used?

• Are there special wastewater

characteristics?
High grease and oil (i.e. restaurant)
Industrial Process Wastewater
 Notice Other Factors/Changes
• Have special practices been implemented
properly?
Diversions & interceptor drains
Risers
Ductile iron used for crossings
Make a List of Deficiencies

• Document
• Document
• Document
 Evaluate the Deficiencies
• Is this a problem that will effect the
functioning of the system?
• How bad is the problem?
• Who needs to be contacted?
Owner
Contractor
Installer
 Evaluate the Deficiencies

• Does the installation comply with permit

conditions?
• Does the system meet the rules?
• How did the problem happen?
• Is it a recurrent problem?
• Can the problem be corrected?
Is this tank level?
 How will you deal with the
deficiencies?
• Is it minor?
• Readily correctable
• Review with installer and have it corrected
• If this is a recurring problem, educate the
contractor
If this is a WARNING - Document it
 Dealing with Deficiencies
• Is it More Serious?
• Not readily correctable?
• Deny operations permit until corrected and
approved
• Issue an Intent to Suspend the permit if a
new system design or layout is required
 Dealing with Deficiencies

• Is it Major?
• Not Correctable?
• Deny Operation Permit
• Issue Intent to Revoke permit
 Explanation

• Explain your findings to the Contractor

Emphasize the positive
Be firm and assertive
Be fair
 Be able to explain necessary rule(s) & common
sense reasons why problem must be fixed
State necessary changes and set deadline(s)
Document
• Document What
You Find and Any
Actions You Take
 Follow Through
• Don’t Carry the
Ball to the One
Yard Line …and
then Punt!!
 Check Final Landscaping

• Landscaped to provide drainage

• Surface interception
• Subsurface interception
• Visible Markers
• Cover over drainfield
Tank
Markers
 Take Appropriate Permitting
Action
• Make a thorough sketch with notes and
measurements
• Show in relation to system
building(s)
grading & driveway
landscaping
well or water supply (lines)
other utilities
Record measurements
on an As-Built Drawing
 Take Appropriate Permitting
Action

• Specify operation, maintenance and

performance conditions on the Operation
permit

• Issue Operation Permit only after necessary

changes, if any
 When the Operation
Permit is Released, You
Loose a Lot of
Leverage!!
 Develop Good Relationships

• Septic System Installers

• Building Inspector(s)
• Builders and Contractors
• Your Co-Workers
Discuss
findings
Those
installers just
keep on
getting
younger and
younger.