Improving Arizona’s Inspection Program to Meet Modern Challenges

Arizona has entered its seventh year of point of sale inspections.

No provision for enforcementMediocre inspectionsIncomplete and inaccurate reportsSeller refuses to have their onsite treatment

system inspectedInstitutions ignoring the point of sale

inspection

Unexpected Issues Revealed

General treatment & dispersal informationSeptic tank inspection and pumping

informationSoil treatment system inspectionOther components/appurtenancesComment sectionInspection summaryInspector’s certificationSketches/Plans/Maps

Multiple Points of Disclosure

Access Properly

Your Best Friends

Observation and rational examination of the facts

Follow the inspection report line by lineAccurate documentationConclusion

Scientific Theory Applied to the Report of Inspection

Physical and Operational Condition Operational Test

Effluent must move through tank

Through componentsTo the soil treatment

area for dispersal

Tank Integrity

Cracks in Sidewalls

Exposed Rebar

Hydrogen SulfideEttringite

Billowing

Baffles

Baffles, extension too long

Static Level

Effluent Level

Overload

Everything You Need to Know

Sludge Overload

Seepage Pits

Seepage Pits

Soil Treatment Observation Ports

• Access STA

•Is tank connected?

•Insert

•Retract camera

Soil Treatment

Area Evaluation

NAWT is looking at a new standard for evaluating soil treatment areas proposed by Pennsylvania Septage Management Association.

Add two hours to the inspection process, after properly exposing the tank, pumping, and inspecting.

It could involve up to three trips to the property in 3 days.

Use 225 to 675 gallons of water.Require additional excavations and

modifications.

Hydraulic Load Test

Water is available on-site and that it is turned on.

Water conservation is not an environmental issue.

Assumes the media is within reach of a 6-inch auger.

Assumes media will fall out of the soil treatment area and need replacing.

Assumes that the person conducting it is an expert in the field.

Assumes that persons responsible for such a test can financially assume the burden of unnecessary expense.

Assumptions Made

Because special attention has been paid to each point of disclosure on our form, the septic tank is the smoking gun for occupied or vacant structures.

When a structure has been vacant, and the STA is dormant, science has proven that the biomat dissipates and the soil treatment area recovers.

With these two points considered and observation of a simple flow test, a conclusion can be drawn as to the condition of the soil treatment area without hydraulic loading.

Vacant Properties

Can be overcome by using tools and modern technology to observe all parts of the system.

Inspectors must put their professional integrity on the line and check yes or no to points of inspection.

With judicious, yet minimal revisions, adoption of modern inspection tools, and strict enforcement, the State can generate the standards necessary to identify systems as functional or not functional.

Challenges

ARIZONA

In Arizona,

where water is

our most

precious

commodity and

distances our

greatest

obstacle, there is

no need for the

hydraulic load

test to evaluate

soil treatment

areas.