2019 DEC update SEPTIC ABANDONMENT Pres_20181211 (1) (1)
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Homeowner Responsibility – Sewers
It is the responsibility of the homeowner, at their expense, to connect their house to the sewer service stub at their property line and to abandon their septic system after the sewer system is installed, inspected and tested
If the property owner fails to connect to the sewer service stub, the WPCA shall cause the connection to be made and shall assess the expense to the homeowner
Fuss & O’Neill will assist homeowners to complete the Lateral Location Form to assist the property owner to place the sewer line stub at the property line for your property
- Map for each property has been provided for homeowner to depict preferred location
- The preferred location should
- Minimize disruption to plantings and driveways
- Identify any other conditions or concerns
Public Health Code
- Conn Public Health Code (Section IID) requires “Abandonment of subsurface sewage disposal system components (i.e. septic tank, hollow leaching structure) or cesspool shall be performed in such a manner as to eliminate the danger of inadvertent collapse of the component or cesspool. The responsibility for abandonment lies with the property owner. Structures that are to be abandoned shall be emptied of all sewage prior to abandonment. Structures shall be filled with sand, gravel, or crushed and backfilled with clean soil.”
- Property owners are required, at their expense, to abandon their Septic Tank at the same time the sewer connection to their house is completed.
Problem with Old Septic Systems
- Connecticut Public Health Code states responsibility lies with the property owner to eliminate the danger of inadvertent collapse 1
- Forgotten septic tanks, hollow leaching structures, cesspools, and drywells present serious hazards including cave-in or collapses and asphyxiation hazards.
- It is unwise to leave a potentially lethal hazard and personal liability unaddressed at your property.
What is the Homeowner’ Responsibility?
- Owners shall abandon septic systems when a public sewer becomes available
- Work needs to be done by an experienced contractor who knows proper safety procedures
- Pumping septic system waste into a public sanitary sewer system is prohibited
Best Practices for Septic System Abandonment
1.Notify WPCA and Local Health Department (Ledge Light Health District) as required
2.Disconnect power at the source to all electric controls and remove all controls and panels (if applicable)
3.Pump out the septic tank and any hollow structures by a Licensed Septic Hauler. Do not pump the contents into a public sewer
4.Remove tank cover
5.Rupture bottom of structure (after pumping) to prevent retainage of water
6.Take photo of structure (before filling)
7.Fill structures with sand, gravel, flowable fill, or crush & backfill with clean soil
8.Take second photo after filling to the top of sidewalls
9.Use sand, aggregate, and soil from mound to fill the tanks if a mounded system is being abandoned
10.Compact material to prevent settling
11.Disconnect and seal all piping leading to/from the structure
12.Grade site and establish vegetative cover
13.Document the location and methods of the filled-in septic system so future site workers can anticipate these buried obstructions
14.Submit a copy of the pumping receipt, filled-in tank location, and photos to the Local Health Department (Ledge Light Health District) to record abandonment
Water Connections
The CT Water Co will be furnishing and installing year-round water mains and fire protection in 2020.
For CWC’s existing customers, CWC will connect the new system to the homeowner’s existing seasonal service connections at their property line. Seasonal service will be uninterrupted.
For those houses that are not current customers CWC will install only the laterals and curb stops to the property line
Houses that have wells and no CWC service do not have to connect to the CWC system.
Houses without CWC service who want to have year-round water service must complete a CWC application and conform to their terms and conditions and will be responsible to connect at their own expense from the curb stop to the house.