Final Inspections
Inspection
Documentation
Operation Permits
&
As-Built Drawings
What You Need to Know
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Laws
Rules
Permit Conditions
Procedures
You Need to
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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
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Applicant/Owner:___________________________ Location:_____________________ Date of First Inspection:_____________
System Installer:_______________________ System type:_______________________________
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PUMP TANK
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Manufacturer ________________________
Capacity_____________ GAL.
Date ______________
Riser (min. 6 in.) _________
Gal. Per inch in Tank ________
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PUMP REQUIREMENTS
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_____GPM @ _____’ TDH
Brand _________________
Model _________________
Alarm Audible __________
Alarm Visible __________
Float Tree _____________
Proper Dosing Vol.______
Draw Down in Inches ______
Block for Pump (3” min.) _____
Rope __________
SUPPLY LINE
Size _______”
Length _____
PVC Unions ___
PVC Ball Valve ___
PVC Check Valve___
Valves Accessible___
Antisiphon Hole____
PT- _______
Strength Test______________ PSI
Leak Test ________________
Riser Sealed Properly_________
One piece______ Two piece______
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
NEMA 4X Box ____________
Box 12” above land surface____
Box Adjacent to Pump Tank ___
Piggyback Plug_______
Weatherproof Sealant________
Pump Manually Operable_____
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
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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
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Baffle
opening
not
cleared
Inspect Baffle
Wall 
Tee
&
Filter
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Interior Seam
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Septic Tank
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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
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Grade
Material
Diameter
Distance from tank to drainfield/distribution
device

Verify
Minimum
2’ from
Tank to DBox
Verify
grade
from
Tank to
D-Box
There is No
maximum
distance from
tank to
distribution
device
Distribution Device
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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
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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
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Septic System Installers
Building Inspector(s)
Builders and Contractors
Your Co-Workers
Discuss
findings
Those
installers just
keep on
getting
younger and
younger.