So You Want To Build a Home
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| Planning |
Building a Home can be rewarding. When building a home in an area designated as a planned unit development (PUD) , one does not need to worry about how you are going to connect the home to the water and sewer service. PUD are located in districts which provide these solutions and merely require you to connect to their services through what is commonly refered to is a water or sewer main.
The fees and costs to do so generally range from $6000 to $12,000 or more depending the size of tap you require, along with the district. Most residences only require a 1 1/2" size taps, commercial buildings are much larger and more expensive respectively. You need to be aware you may be located in a special districts and with them come special assesments. You will also be required to pay them as well before you can connect to their systems. Some districts only allow certain times of the year and under direct supervision.
Some homes located in the mountains and more rural areas are not in PUD and in order to obtain Water and Sewer service for the home a well and septic system must be constructed.
I would like to encourage you to begin the septic system design process by surveying your property in an effort to develop a conceptual site plan. In developing this plan, it is important that you have a good idea of the location of all water wells and septic systems on all adjacent properties, even those across roadways. Information concerning the actual or permitted location of wells and septic systems on adjacent properties can be obtained through research of our septic system records.
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| Building |
You should also know the location of any surface waters, wetlands or other surface features which may require significant setback distances (refer to the attached setback table and sample plot plan). It is also important to know the percent of slope in the area of the proposed leach field. At the time you submit your conceptual plan, we will ask you to submit an application for a septic system permit.
What soils tests are required?
Initially, all that is required is a soil profile survey. A soil profile hole is a deep pit at least 8 feet deep and a minimum of 4 feet below the bottom of the proposed leach field. The profile hole may be less than 8 feet deep if bedrock is encountered. Our staff must conduct an inspection of the profile hole. A $90.00 fee is required prior to this inspection and allows for up to two inspections of the profile hole. This inspection enables us to determine if groundwater, bedrock, impervious clay layers or other problem conditions exist in the area of the proposed leach field. The inspection also helps to identify the most appropriate soil layers to install the leach field in, thereby determining the depth of your leach field. The profile hole is usually dug with a backhoe and needs to be wide enough to permit visual observation of soil layers to the bottom of the pit. To prevent accidents and injuries on your site, the profile hole and any other soil test pits need to be securely covered or barricaded immediately after excavation unless they can be dug and backfilled at the time of inspection.
When can a soil profile survey be conducted?
Soils can be evaluated at any time during the year provided that both equipment and our staff can safely access the site. Some portions of Summit County exhibit seasonally high water tables. In these areas, a profile hole inspection may be required during maximal seasonal groundwater periods (usually mid-May through mid-June).
Is a percolation test required?
Soils evaluations can be conducted by performing a percolation test, sieve analysis or other approved alternative that is equivalent to the percolation test outlined in the ISDS Regulations. Sieve tests or soils textural analysis must correspond to the U.S.D.A. soil classification system. All tests require multiple sample sites so make sure to have all pits dug at the time the profile hole is dug to avoid additional expense and delays in getting an excavator to return to the site.
Do I need to hire an engineer?
All soils tests must be performed by a Registered Professional Engineer or a Professional Geologist. Other conditions which require an engineer to design your septic system include:
- where the percolation rate is greater than 60 minutes per inch or less than 5 minutes per inch;
-where the maximum seasonal groundwater level is less than 4 feet below the bottom of the proposed leach field;
-where there is less than 4 feet of suitable soil below the bottom of the proposed leach field;
- where impervious bedrock exists less than 4 feet below the bottom of the proposed leach field;
-where ground slope is in excess of 30 percent in the area of the proposed leach field;
-where the maximum daily flow will exceed 2000 gallons per day;
Can I design my own septic system?
You always have the option of hiring a licensed professional engineer to design your septic system if you so choose; but, provided that none of the previously mentioned site restrictions exist, you may design your own septic system. According to our local septic system regulations, there are two acceptable methods of sizing a leach field in Summit County. One method uses the percolation rate and the other utilizes the Long Term Acceptance Rate (LTAR) of the soil type found during the soils evaluation. Our staff will use the approved percolation test or soils analysis results to calculate the leach field size by using the LTAR. In general, tighter soils (i.e. silty loams and clays) will require a larger square footage of leach field area when the LTAR sizing method is used. However, several alternatives can be utilized to minimize the financial impact of a larger sizing requirement. Your Environmental Health Officer can assist you with deciding on the best alternative.
When do I get my permit?
Before a permit can be issued, a site inspection must be conducted to determine if the proposed system can meet all setback requirements. All components of the septic system as well as proposed building, well, water lines and property lines must be located by stakes on your property for this inspection. A fee of $135.00 is required in advance of this inspection. If the site inspection is conducted at the same time as the profile hole survey, the profile hole inspection fee will be waived. Arrangements for the site inspection should be made at least one day in advance of the requested
inspection time.
You and/or either your design engineer or contractor must meet our inspector at the property to assist with the site inspection. If the inspector finds that the proposed system meets all regulations, the application will be approved for permitting. Once you have submitted your permit fee, design information and final plot plan, the permit will be issued.
How long is the permit valid?
The septic system permit is valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. An expired permit may be reactivated for a period of twelve months upon receipt of a written request to Environmental Health. At the end of the permit reactivation period, if the individual sewage disposal system has not been installed, the permit is considered invalid, and the owner may apply for reinstatement of the permit. A fee of $135.00 is required to reinstate a permit, provided no changes are made to the design. If changes are desired, the application is considered new and is subject to all applicable fees.
Who can install a septic system?
If you do not intend to install your septic system yourself, it must be installed by a contractor who is licensed by the Summit County Public Health Department, Environmental Health (see attached licensed contractor list). In order to install your own system, you must take the homeowner/builder test at our office. The test must be taken and passed prior to beginning construction of your septic system. The cost of the test is $90.00. This fee includes a copy of the ISDS Regulations.
Any earth disturbing activities in Summit County greater than 500 sq. ft. require a Grading and Excavation Permit from the Summit County Engineering Department. Most septic systems fall into this category; therefore, a Grading and Excavation Permit is required prior to beginning construction of the septic system.
What inspections are required during installation?
Your ISDS permit fee entitles you to four inspections during the construction process. Additional inspection fees will be charged if more inspections are necessary. All components of the system must be left exposed until the inspection is completed unless otherwise approved by the inspector. Arrangements for all inspections should be made at least one business day in advance of the requested inspection time. You should know that since dosing systems are required for all septic systems in Summit County, an inspection is required of the dosing system and final grading over the septic/dosing tank(s) before we can sign-off for a Certificate of Occupancy.
This inspection is one of the four allowed under your permit, so care should be taken to plan your inspections accordingly, especially if you are planning to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy during the winter months.
Can I obtain a well permit through your office?
No. The Summit County Environmental Health does not issue
well permits. Information regarding well permits may be
obtained by contacting:
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Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources 1313 Sherman St.,
8th Floor Denver, CO 80203 (303) 866-3587
A copy of the approved State Well Permit must be submitted to Summit County Environmental Health prior to receiving Environmental Health sign-off for the Building Permit. Any other type of non-public water supply is subject to review and approval by Environmental Health, and plans for such non-public water supplies must accompany the submittal of plans to the Building Department. Quality of a private water supply is the responsibility of the owner. Prior to receiving Environmental Health sign-off for a Certificate of Occupancy, a negative bacteriological test and flow test must be submitted to Environmental Health. Copies of our permit application and plot plan forms are attached.
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