Wastewater System Inspections
Big changes are on the horizon for 2008. North Carolina House Bill 688
becomes law January 1, 2008. This bill requires septic system inspectors and
installers to be state certified. Anyone offering to inspect or install septic
systems without the appropriate certificate is subject to a Class 2 misdemeanor.
The good news is:
- Jim and Anne are now North Carolina Certified Onsite Wastewater System
Inspectors!
- Onsite wastewater inspections can only be done by certified inspectors.
- Onsite wastewater inspections will all be done according to North Carolina
onsite wastewater inspection protocol.
- For everyone hoping for a more detailed inspection their wish will be
fulfilled!
The bad news is:
- NCOWCICB (North Carolina Onsite Wastewater Contractor Inspector Certification
Board) the committee responsible for establishing the North Carolina onsite
wastewater inspection protocol has yet to do so. They intend to have the rules
set by January 1, 2008, but that does not give any of us time to plan in
advance.
- Septic inspections will be significantly more in depth than they have been in
the past and the cost of inspections is likely to triple or quadruple.
-
The current plan is to “highly
recommend” the septic tank be pumped for the inspection or to require a signed
affidavit from the buyer stating they specifically chose not to have the tank
pumped.
-
The inspector will require
copies of the operation permit from the county, system plans, and ORC (Operator
in Responsible Charge) operation and maintenance records BEFORE going onsite.
-
All of these new requirements
are going to take TIME. So planning ahead for septic inspections is going to be
an ABSOLUTE MUST.
Things you can do to speed the process along:
-
Have all the required
documentation in hand before calling for an appointment.
-
Have the septic tank pumped
or the buyer’s signed affidavit in hand before calling for an appointment.
Sites to visit for more information on the new
rules and regulations:
http://www.ncowcicb.info
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