If your septic system fails inspection, Title 5 allows up to 2 years to get it fixed or upgrade the system. The local board of health needs to be contacted first, and they need to approve all upgrades and most repairs. The board of health will tell you what you will need to do.

Shop around. Get written estimates, check qualifications and references. You are under no obligation to have the person who inspected your system do the work on it. In fact, you may want to hire separate contractors to evaluate it or work on it. That way you know the work you need done is accurate and that you. While most septic system professionals are honest, as in any other profession there may be a few "bad apples" who try to take advantage of the consumer.

Repair or upgrade costs will vary depending on the nature of the problem, soil conditions, distance to water supplies, and the size of the lot. If you are planning to sell your home, keep in mind that Title 5 does not specify who must pay for the system inspections, repairs or upgrades. You may find during negotiations that the prospective buyer is willing to assume some or all of the costs.

Even if you plan to stay in the home, you may qualify for financial aid programs for septic system or cesspool repair or replacement:

• Many cities and towns have "betterment" programs for long-term, low-cost financing.
• State law provides for a system repair tax credit of up to $6,000 per homeowner.
• The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) offers septic-system repair loans.
• USDA Rural Development offers single-family housing repair loans and grants.

For more information on Title V, upgrading or repairing your septic system, contact Morse Engineering and Construction.

When should a septic system be inspected?

The septic system should be inspected once a year, including as soon as the house is put on the market for sale. This will enhance the home’s value and avoid any liability issues that might result from a malfunctioning system. It is in the interest of a prospective buyer to insist that the septic system be inspected before they purchase the home if it has not been done recently.

What might InterNACHI inspectors look for?

1. Find the date that the tank was last pumped. Ultimately, sludge level should determine whether a tank should be pumped, but knowledge of previous pumping dates can be a helpful reference.
2. Check the sludge level with a “sludge judge” or a similar device. Sludge accumulates on the tank bottom and should not occupy more than 1/3 of the tank’s total volume or rise to the level of the baffles.
3. The septic tank and drainfield should be far from wells and streams.
4. Ensure that the system is large enough for the home that it serves. A four-bedroom home, for instance, typically requires a 1,200-gallon tank. The more occupants living in the home, the larger the tank that is required. Capacity in gallons can be calculated by tank dimensions. For rectangular tanks, length x width x depth in feet x 7.5 = capacity in gallons. For round tanks, 3.14 x radius squared x depth in feet x 7.5 = capacity in gallons.
5. Check for liquid waste that has made its way to the ground surface. This condition is unsanitary and indicates that the system is overloaded. Make sure that the tank is watertight so that wastewater does not contaminate groundwater, and groundwater does not flow into the tank and cause it to overfill.
6. If riser lids are present, they should be inspected for cracks and made sure they are secure.
7. Make sure that the baffles are firmly connected to the tank’s inlet and outlet pipes.
8. Drain lines should each receive the same amount of wastewater. They can be examined by opening the distribution box. If the box becomes tipped or clogged, it will disproportionately allocate effluent, and potentially flood sections of the drainfield.

For more information on Title 5 Inspections, contact Morse Engineering and Construction.

Are you considering adding on to your home, or selling and taking advantage of the spring market? If so, you probably have a long "to-do" list. But, one thing you can't overlook if you live in Massachusetts is your septic system. At Morse Engineering and Construction we often have homeowners wondering when Title 5 inspection are required. Here's your answer:

• Within 2 years before a sale. If weather conditions prevent inspection at the time of a sale, the inspection must take place within 6 months afterward.
• When there is a proposed change to the facility which requires a building or occupancy permit.
• Any change in the footprint of a building, to make sure that new building construction will not take place on top of any system components or on the system’s reserve area.
• For large systems with a design flow of 10,000 to 15,000 gallons per day or more at full build-out, on the basin schedule shown in 310 CMR 15.301(6), and every five years thereafter.
• Every 3 years for shared systems.
• When the property is divided, or ownership of 2 or more properties is combined.
• When MassDEP or the local Board of Health orders an inspection.

Arranging for the Inspection

The property owner or operator is responsible for arranging the inspection. The buyer and seller may change the responsibility for arranging the inspection prior to title transfer, provided that this change is put in writing and that the inspection still occurs within the specified timeframes.

The purpose of the inspection is to determine if the system in its current condition can protect public health and the environment. The inspection does not guarantee that the system will continue to function adequately, or that the system will not fail at a later date. This is particularly important if you plan to increase the flow to the system.

The inspection includes determining the location and condition of cesspools, septic tanks and distribution boxes. Often, this will not require extensive excavation.

For more information on Title 5 Inspections, contact Morse Engineering and Construction.

Substandard septic systems are the primary cause of the deteriorating water quality in area ponds, and an aging septic system can be a fetid accident waiting to happen.

For homeowners who want to upgrade failing septic systems but don’t have the funds, there are several forms of financial aid available.

The Homeowner Septic Repair Loan Program, a co-venture between the Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and MassHousing, offers below-market-rate loans for homeowners with septic systems that don’t meet Title V requirements.

The loans range from $1,000 to $25,000, and interest ranges from 0% to 5%, depending on applicant income. The loans are amortized for a period of three to 20 years, depending on the size of the loan, and must be paid in full if the house is sold, refinanced, or transfered. Rates vary in different parts of the state. A household of two with income below $92,000 can qualify for a loan at 5% interest. A household of three or more making less than $104,000 can also qualify for a loan at 5% interest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently established a loan program for septic upgrades and other home repairs through its Rural Development Housing Program, known as the Section 504 Home Repair program. Loans are available for low-income homeowners under the age of 62, for up to $20,000 at a 1 percent fixed interest rate for up to 20 years. Homeowners age 62 and older who do not have repayment ability for a loan may be eligible for a grant of up to $7,500. USDA funds can cover all upfront and construction costs, including septic system designs, permits, and installations. Program eligibility is based on household income that cannot exceed 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) and the property must be in a rural community. According to the USDA website, much of Massachusetts qualifies as a rural community.

For homeowners who make too much to qualify for either program, there is the Massachusetts Income Tax Credit, which can provide up to $6,000 in tax credits over four years.

The amount claimed in a tax year cannot exceed $1,500, but any excess credit amount can be applied against the taxpayer’s personal income tax for three years following the year in the credit is claimed. The Title V credit becomes available in the tax year in which the work to repair or replace the failed cesspool or septic system is completed.

For more information on Title V Septic, contact Morse Engineering and Construction.

Source: mvtimes.com