The Water Protection Program of the Appalachian District Health Department is responsible for permitting and inspecting all septic systems within the district. The goal of the program is to protect the public’s health through the safe disposal and treatment of wastewater. Prior to building a facility, there must be a permitted plan on how that facility will dispose of the wastewater that it will generate. When a municipal sewer system is not available, the most common alternative is a sub-surface septic system which will both treat and dispose of the wastewater on the site. In North Carolina, this is carried out through a three-tiered permitting process which consists of the following:
Improvement Permit
Once the application and site preparation has been completed, the EHS will make a site evaluation based on the following factors:
- Shape and slope of the lot (ex. hill or depression)
- Soil composition: texture-causing mixtures of sand, silt, and clay and the sizes of the particles
- Soil structure: arrangement of the soil particles
- Soil wetness conditions: location of the seasonal high water table or perched water table, and as determined by observation of colors of chroma 2 or less using the Munsell Color Chart.
- Soil depth: amount of suitable soil before an unsuitable factor such as rock or saprolite.
- Restrictive factors: soil that is capable of perching ground water or sewage effluent, also called “hard pans”
- Available space: amount of suitable soil that can be used for the septic system and repair area
If the site is approved then the department will issue an Improvement Permit.
Authorization for Wastewater System Construction
Once the property lines and the locations of the house, driveway and well have all been finalized and approved, the department will also issue an Authorization for Wastewater System Construction. This, along with a well permit, is required when applying for a building permit.
Operation Permit
This permit is issued once the system installation is approved and the construction is complete.
The permitting process is done in accordance with the North Carolina General Statutes which state that:Any person owning or controlling a residence, place of business, or place of public assembly shall provide an approved sanitary sewage system. Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS), acting as authorized agents of the Department of Health and Human Services, ensure that the rules and regulations addressing the placement, design, installation, and maintenance of on-site sub-surface septic systems are enforced in order to protect the public’s health.
For more information of installing a septic system, please contact the Environmental Health office in your county. For more information of the NC On-site Water Protection Program, please click here.
Septic Smart Presentation – Downloadable PDF