Permitting Services to Monitor Septic Tank Performance

db:septic.pr 97-257 Contact: Larry Stephens, 301-217-6160

PERMITTING SERVICES TO MONITOR
SEPTIC TANK PERFORMANCE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 1997

Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services (DPS) will begin evaluating
all new and replacement septic tanks and effluent pump chambers, beginning October 1, 1997.
The monitoring effort will ensure that septic tanks and chambers are watertight, and that they
do not leak sewage into the environment.
In recent years, a growing number of new tanks -- particularly side- and mid-seam
tanks -- have been found to have structural defects (e.g., exposed aggregate, cracks, and
surface flaws) that allow sewage to escape.
County sanitarians who inspect septic systems will require installers to pre-fill new
tanks with clean water to the invert of the outlet pipe in order to ensure that the tanks are in
compliance with Executive Regulation 28-93AM. Tanks must be located in an excavation
that allows at least 4" clearance so that all four vertical tank walls can be examined for
leakage while it is full of water. Pre-filling will not be required for top-seam septic tanks,
unless structural defects are visible. All tanks used as sewage holding tanks will have to be
filled with water to the top of the lid and be fitted with a temporary inlet-pipe plug prior to
inspection.
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PERMITTING SERVICES MONITORS SEPTIC TANKS 2-2-2-2

Manufacturers will be required to repair or replace tanks that leak. Those that pass
the DPS inspection will become the property and responsibility of the installer or the property
owner.
The Department of Permitting Services encourages septic-tank manufacturers to
examine their quality-control processes so that defective tanks are not shipped and installed at
job sites.
Further information about septic tank performance testing is available through the Well
and Septic unit of DPS at 301-217-6160.

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