A Waste-Disposal System Inspection is designed to ensure proper drainage and waste disposal. A residential structure’s waste disposal will be either through sewers connected to a community waste-treatment plant, or through a private waste disposal system such as a septic tank or cesspool. A house with a sewer is generally more desirable than one with a private disposal system, because sewers are relatively maintenance free. In some case, a blockage might occur, but is usually cleared at low cost by using a drain auger – “plumber’s snake”. On the other hand, maintaining a private waste disposal system can be quite costly.
Types of Waste Disposal Systems – Integrated Waste Management, Municipal Sewage System
Usually, whether the house is serviced by a sewer or a private disposal system cannot be determined during an inspection. The house drain line passing through the foundation wall is the same, regardless of whether there is an exterior connection to a sewer or to a septic tank. Moreover, not all municipalities require a house trap on the main drain, so the absence of a trap does not mean there are no sewers. In addition, a sanitary sewer in the street does not necessarily mean the house is connected to a sewer line.
If a connection is permitted, tying into the sanitary sewer is at the homeowner’s expense, so many people prefer to stick to their septic systems instead of supporting the expense. On the other hand, in some communities, once a sewer line is installed, all the houses in that street are legally obliged to connect. If you are not sure whether or not your home is connected to a sanitary sewer, contact the local municipal building department.
Waste-Disposal System Inspection – Environmental and Health Considerations
Many people choose to install private disposal systems such as septic tanks or cesspools. A cesspool is basically a hole in the ground that has been lined with stone, brick or some other material, and is constructed to allow raw contaminated liquid sewage to leach into the soil while retaining the organic matter and solids. Most communities, however, no longer allow cesspools in new construction due to environmental and health considerations.
The older homes that have cesspool disposal systems are not required to upgrade them to septic systems, but they must be functioning properly. When problems occur, however, the homeowner is often legally obligated to replace the cesspool with a septic system instead of repairing it. The costs of installing a new septic systems may reach more than ten thousand dollars, depending on soil conditions, available space and topography.