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My sister in law just sent this to me. I think she's buying a cabin or house somewhere in upstate New York. I'm from NYC so I have no idea about these various tests and inspections needed for free standing houses out in the suburbs. Does anyone know how to interpret this?
PRIMARY SYSTEM:
TEST RESULTS:
PASSED. No surfacing or back up of effluent observed.
AMOUNT OF WATER USED:
About 300 gallons at a rate of three to five gallons per minute.
DYE AND/OR WATER WERE INTRODUCED AT THE FOLLOWING FIXTURES:
Toilet, in first floor bathroom, Bath tub, in first floor bathroom.
THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO SERVE THE FOLLOWING FIXTURES:
The entire house.
OBSERVED TANK TYPE:
Unknown type, not visible.
SYSTEM DRAINAGE TYPE:
Unknown, could not be determined.
How We Test The System
Standard Procedure: Infuse dye into the waste system, plus 50 to 75 gallons of water per bedroom at a rate of 3 to 5 gallons per minute. If more than one system is suspected, the water volume is divided between the systems. This test is performed in a manner consistent with the Property Transfer/Refinance Sewage Treatment System Dye Test Protocol
published by the Central New York Chapter of The American Society of Home Inspectors (CNY-ASHI).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM INSPECTOR'S OBSERVATIONS:
NUMBER OF BEDROOMS:
Four.
AGE OF BUILDING:
Approximately ten to fifteen years.
RECENT OCCUPANCY:
Primary Residency.
NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS:
Unknown.
PRIMARY SYSTEM TYPE:
Septic system.
AGE OF PRIMARY SYSTEM:
Unknown.
TANK LAST CLEANED:
Unknown.
FREQUENCY OF CLEANING:
Unknown.
SYSTEM LAST DYE TESTED:
Unknown.
DISTANCE FROM WELL:
Unknown, well or tank not visible.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL WHEN INSTALLED:
Unknown.
HAVE BEDROOMS BEEN ADDED:
Unknown.
Additional Information About Dye Tests
1. The intent of this test is to determine the operational adequacy of this system, within the parameters described, at the time of the inspection only. No assessment of the effluent treatment capability of the system is included. No excavation is typically performed. Readily available access ports will be opened but no probing or testing of septic water is typically performed. Further septic system testing is available by others involving excavation, pumping, and visual inspection of the septic tank or cesspool. This additional
testing is recommended. Older metal tanks may be in deteriorated condition and could collapse. A dye test is not sufficient for determining the condition of the tank. In addition, any distribution box can be located and inspected and the in-ground leaching, aeration, or filtration systems accessed and inspected. These are typically available at considerable added expense, but would provide greater assurance concerning the likely longevity of the present system.
2. A Passed designation indicates that no backup or surfacing of inadequately treated effluent was observed. Conditions that could result in future failure of the system may not be discovered. No guarantee of future performance is included. No guarantee that all secondary systems were identified is included. No liability beyond the cost of this report is assumed for any error in judgment.
3. A Failed designation indicates that the primary or a secondary system did not meet the test parameters or that nonfunctional components were found. A copy of the report may be sent to the appropriate health department authority. We recommend obtaining authorization from the health department before proceeding with alterations or repairs.
4. While this test can be performed at any time and may be informative, it is considered fully valid by local convention only if the system has been in normal usage for a minimum of 60 days immediately prior to the test. Cleaning of the septic tank or significant alteration to the system design or effluent volume within the prior 60 days may also lessen the validity of this test or any retest. We therefore recommend that retesting, if necessary, be performed not less than 60 days after alteration and occupancy.
5. Septic system function, and dye test results, may vary depending on weather related conditions such as the degree of water saturation of the soil. Properly designed septic systems should function adequately and be able to pass this test within any range of normal weather conditions. Unusually dry conditions may reduce the reliability of the dye test to detect failing septic systems.
6. Repair options are not included with this test report. Any repairs should be done professionally and in consultation with the authorities having jurisdiction. Redirection of effluent from a failed secondary or gray water system to an existing primary treatment system, may result in effluent volumes beyond the design capacity of the primary system, and result in failure of that primary system.
7. This inspection report is not a determination of compliance of the above systems with any codes applicable and enforceable at the time of installation or modification. Any record review performed by the inspection firm is necessarily limited and may be subject to error. We recommend application to the appropriate authorities (in Upstate County, the Environmental Health Department) for a record search for further background information and to determine system compliance and approval, if applicable.
8. Well water can become contaminated by nearby septic systems, as well as other sources. Well water should be routinely tested for bacteria and contaminates.
9. Routine maintenance of on-site waste systems should include pumping the tank on a three to five year schedule. We suggest that the last pumping date be ascertained. In addition, chlorine tablets should be added to the chlorinator as needed, if applicable. If the system is an aerobic type (Jet tank) we recommend obtaining a maintenance contract from Upstate Pre Cast at (515) 555-5555 or another authorized service.
10. Entry into a septic tank can result in injury or death. Access should be made difficult, with any access point preferably locked or buried below grade to 12" or greater. All directional references to left, right, front or rear assume the reader is outside facing the front doors of the building.
PRIMARY SYSTEM:
TEST RESULTS:
PASSED. No surfacing or back up of effluent observed.
AMOUNT OF WATER USED:
About 300 gallons at a rate of three to five gallons per minute.
DYE AND/OR WATER WERE INTRODUCED AT THE FOLLOWING FIXTURES:
Toilet, in first floor bathroom, Bath tub, in first floor bathroom.
THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO SERVE THE FOLLOWING FIXTURES:
The entire house.
OBSERVED TANK TYPE:
Unknown type, not visible.
SYSTEM DRAINAGE TYPE:
Unknown, could not be determined.
How We Test The System
Standard Procedure: Infuse dye into the waste system, plus 50 to 75 gallons of water per bedroom at a rate of 3 to 5 gallons per minute. If more than one system is suspected, the water volume is divided between the systems. This test is performed in a manner consistent with the Property Transfer/Refinance Sewage Treatment System Dye Test Protocol
published by the Central New York Chapter of The American Society of Home Inspectors (CNY-ASHI).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM INSPECTOR'S OBSERVATIONS:
NUMBER OF BEDROOMS:
Four.
AGE OF BUILDING:
Approximately ten to fifteen years.
RECENT OCCUPANCY:
Primary Residency.
NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS:
Unknown.
PRIMARY SYSTEM TYPE:
Septic system.
AGE OF PRIMARY SYSTEM:
Unknown.
TANK LAST CLEANED:
Unknown.
FREQUENCY OF CLEANING:
Unknown.
SYSTEM LAST DYE TESTED:
Unknown.
DISTANCE FROM WELL:
Unknown, well or tank not visible.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL WHEN INSTALLED:
Unknown.
HAVE BEDROOMS BEEN ADDED:
Unknown.
Additional Information About Dye Tests
1. The intent of this test is to determine the operational adequacy of this system, within the parameters described, at the time of the inspection only. No assessment of the effluent treatment capability of the system is included. No excavation is typically performed. Readily available access ports will be opened but no probing or testing of septic water is typically performed. Further septic system testing is available by others involving excavation, pumping, and visual inspection of the septic tank or cesspool. This additional
testing is recommended. Older metal tanks may be in deteriorated condition and could collapse. A dye test is not sufficient for determining the condition of the tank. In addition, any distribution box can be located and inspected and the in-ground leaching, aeration, or filtration systems accessed and inspected. These are typically available at considerable added expense, but would provide greater assurance concerning the likely longevity of the present system.
2. A Passed designation indicates that no backup or surfacing of inadequately treated effluent was observed. Conditions that could result in future failure of the system may not be discovered. No guarantee of future performance is included. No guarantee that all secondary systems were identified is included. No liability beyond the cost of this report is assumed for any error in judgment.
3. A Failed designation indicates that the primary or a secondary system did not meet the test parameters or that nonfunctional components were found. A copy of the report may be sent to the appropriate health department authority. We recommend obtaining authorization from the health department before proceeding with alterations or repairs.
4. While this test can be performed at any time and may be informative, it is considered fully valid by local convention only if the system has been in normal usage for a minimum of 60 days immediately prior to the test. Cleaning of the septic tank or significant alteration to the system design or effluent volume within the prior 60 days may also lessen the validity of this test or any retest. We therefore recommend that retesting, if necessary, be performed not less than 60 days after alteration and occupancy.
5. Septic system function, and dye test results, may vary depending on weather related conditions such as the degree of water saturation of the soil. Properly designed septic systems should function adequately and be able to pass this test within any range of normal weather conditions. Unusually dry conditions may reduce the reliability of the dye test to detect failing septic systems.
6. Repair options are not included with this test report. Any repairs should be done professionally and in consultation with the authorities having jurisdiction. Redirection of effluent from a failed secondary or gray water system to an existing primary treatment system, may result in effluent volumes beyond the design capacity of the primary system, and result in failure of that primary system.
7. This inspection report is not a determination of compliance of the above systems with any codes applicable and enforceable at the time of installation or modification. Any record review performed by the inspection firm is necessarily limited and may be subject to error. We recommend application to the appropriate authorities (in Upstate County, the Environmental Health Department) for a record search for further background information and to determine system compliance and approval, if applicable.
8. Well water can become contaminated by nearby septic systems, as well as other sources. Well water should be routinely tested for bacteria and contaminates.
9. Routine maintenance of on-site waste systems should include pumping the tank on a three to five year schedule. We suggest that the last pumping date be ascertained. In addition, chlorine tablets should be added to the chlorinator as needed, if applicable. If the system is an aerobic type (Jet tank) we recommend obtaining a maintenance contract from Upstate Pre Cast at (515) 555-5555 or another authorized service.
10. Entry into a septic tank can result in injury or death. Access should be made difficult, with any access point preferably locked or buried below grade to 12" or greater. All directional references to left, right, front or rear assume the reader is outside facing the front doors of the building.