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• Septic inspection worksheets/checklists
• Definition of levels of septic inspection
• Photographs of typical septic inspection steps

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Septic system inspection field data worksheets: here are three detailed septic system field inspection and test worksheets to assist in inspecting and documenting the condition of septic systems. This document is a chapter of Septic Systems Online Book procedures, defects in onsite waste disposal systems, septic tank problems, septic drainfield problems, checklists of system components and things to ask. Septic system maintenance and pumping schedules.

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SEPTIC INSPECTION WORK SHEETS - Septic System Inspection and Testing Worksheets

Here we provide a series of field worksheets useful during the conduct of septic system inspections for investigations of the condition of a septic system using level 0, 1, and 2 septic inspections.

Worksheet for Septic Inspection Level 0 - Basic Information

A surprising amount of useful diagnostic information about the condition of a septic tank and drainfield can be developed by a thoughtful visual inspection of the property even before any steps to test the septic system have begun. The two photos above show a case in which an old home-made septic tank was located just a few feet from a public lake. You can see our septic test water pouring into the septic tank in the upper right part of the right hand photo. The jumble of stones visible just inside the septic "tank" indicate that this is a home-made system, perhaps simply a cesspool. With the nearby stream and lake just a few feet away, this system is unlikely to be acceptable by modern standards of sanitation and building code. Below we've printed our field data collection worksheets used for septic system inspection.

INSPECTION DATE:_____________________________________________________________
INSPECTION ADDRESS:__________________________________________________________
INSPECTOR's NAME:____________________________________________________________
CLIENT's NAME:_______________________________________________________________
The system was NOT INSPECTED because: _______________________________________
UNSAFE CONDITIONS OBSERVED, PEOPLE NOTIFIED: ________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

BASIC SEPTIC SYSTEM INFORMATION
 System Age: _______________________  Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
 Recent Nr. Occupants: _____________  Year Round: Y/N    Nr. Bedrooms:________
 Currently Occupied:   Y/N    Vacant since:______________
 Tank Last Pumped:__________________  Garbage Disposal:  Y/N
 Separate Drywell/Drain for Washer/Other:________________
 Calculated or other Specific Flow or Load:___________________________________

TREATMENT TANK INFORMATION and CONDITION:
  LOCATION:      Not Identified.      Reported/observed at:________________
                                      Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
  TYPE:          Not Identified.      Reported/observed at:________________
   Concrete/Steel/Other:_____________ Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   Septic Tank / Aerobic Tank / Grease Trap
   Cesspool / Overflow Cesspool / Privy
   Is System Shared:  Y/N             Previous Inspection Records Attached: Y/N
   Damage/Defects Observed:________________________________________________
  CAPACITY:      Not Visible.         Reported/observed at:________________
   Gallons: _________________________ Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
  COVER:         Not Visible.         Reported/observed at:________________
   Concrete/Steel/Other:_____________ Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   Damage/Defects Observed: child-hazard, missing, not secure, damaged,  __
  AGE OF COMPONENTS:                  Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   ___________________________________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________________________________
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________
  NOTICE:  Low volume minimum-flush toilets/waste disposal system installed.

If a septic mound system or raised bed septic system is installed, a pump may be required to move effluent from a pumping chamber up to the mound treatment area. The presence of a septic mound will be quite obvious but the presence or absence of a pump serving the mound may be less apparent. Look for control boxes, pumping chamber access cover, and of course request whatever information a prior owner may be able to provide - but dont' rely on that data to be complete.

PUMPING EQUIPMENT:
  PUMP-Mound     Not Visible.         Reported/observed at:________________
   Operating Satisfactorily  Y/N      Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
  PUMP-Ejector   Not Visible.         Reported/observed at:________________
   Operating Satisfactorily  Y/N      Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other

ABSORPTION SYSTEM:
  LOCATION:      Not Identified.      Reported/observed at:________________
                                      Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   Damage/Defects Observed:________________________________________________
  TYPE:          Not Identified.      Reported/observed at:________________
   Cesspool      Capacity:___________ Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   Seepage Bed   Trench System   Elevated Mound/Sand
   Other:_______________________________________
   Indications of previous failure: Odors, Seepage, Lush Vegetation,
   Gray Water discharge. to surface/stream/storm drain;
   Parking, driveway, runoff, shrubs, trees over drainfield;
   Construction/additions over drainfield;
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________

SYSTEM OPERATION
 VISUAL OBSERVATIONS:
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________
 CONCLUSIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS:
 --SATISFACTORY-- good to fair condition
No visual evidence of system failure, functional drain flow was observed.
EXPLANATION: At the time of our inspection the sewage disposal system appeared
to be working normally and adequately. There was no evidence of stopped main
drains, no unusual septic odors.
[If a loading/dye test was NOT performed:] By your instruction, we did not
perform a system loading and dye test. Important additional information about
system condition is available from this and other levels of septic inspection.
[There was/was not evidence of recent excavation or repair - which suggests
that additional questions to owner or investigation are in order.]
[If a loading/dye test was performed:] Report details of dye test procedures
(see below), and results.

SEPTIC SYSTEM LOADING AND DYE TEST ON-SITE DETAILS:
WATER run at:______________________ for __________ minutes prior to introducing
tracer dye.
TRACER DYE placed at: ____________________________
WATER RUN at these fixtures:___________________________________________________
FOR ________________________ minutes at an ESTIMATED AVERAGE FLOW OF ______GPM
TOTAL TEST VOLUME OF WATER WAS ________________________ GALLONS

These photographs show three reasons to believe there is no working septic system at this property and that installing one will be costly: there is no area on the site which is not very rocky - there is a lack of soil for effluent treatment; the site is very steep, and even before beginning the septic loading and dye test there is visible runout that may be septic effluent coming from a tiny home-made septic tank. The first photo shows water running across rock near the reported septic tank location before we began our septic loading test. The second or right-hand photo shows the increase in water running across this rock shortly after we began testing this septic system.

EVIDENCE OF BACKUP, DYE BREAKOUT, OR OTHER DEFECT WAS/WAS NOT ______OBSERVED

DETAILS
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
---UNSATISFACTORY-- poor condition or nonfunctional
 Evidence of failure/improper operation was observed:
   System backup      (system backs up into house)
   System breakout    (discharge or ponding of effluent on ground surface)
   System blockage    (system backs up and leaks at tank or distribution. box)
                      (static liquid level in distribution box above outlet)
                      (liquid level in cesspool less  than 6" below invert or
                        available volume less than 1/2 day flow)
   Hydraulic overload (excess. water in absorption area, effluent @ surface)
                      (fields may be undersized, improperly located, damaged)
                      (fields may be improperly installed, unbalanced)
   Maintenance failure (fields damaged by solids flowing from tank/tree roots)
   Mechanical damage  (driving over leach fields, damage piping/trenches)
   Groundwater flowing onto/into/flooding absorption area
   Mound systems: improper slope, insufficient soil layer, on flood plain,
          less than 5' from property line,
          less than 50' from stream; pump defects;
   Other Defects:
     (pumping multiple times during past year (e.g. less than 4))
     (damaged tank, baffles, distribution box, other)
     (Absorption system located in low/wet areas)
     (Components within 50' of a surface stream, pond, river, or private well)
     (Between 50 and 100' from a private well with no acceptable water analysis)
     (Components within 100' of a tributary to a surface water supply)
     (Too close to a public well (depends on state regulations.))
     (Cesspool or privy within 50' of a protected wetland)
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________

Contents

Additional Worksheet for Level 0 Inspection

Septic tank pumping, which should not be performed until after any loading and dye testing, can provide additional key information about the condition of the septic tank and even, indirectly, the condition of the drainfields. These photographs show a septic tank being pumped and then the interior of the concrete tank after septic tank cleanout.

 TREATMENT TANK:
 TANK LAST PUMPED: _________________  Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
 Reason for Pumping:    Regular Service, Inspection, Diagnosis, Other:_________
 Components inspected when last pumped: Y/N         Volume Pumped Out: _______
  Damage/Defects Observed:________________________________________________
  Site-built tank, not water tight; missing/damaged baffles; damaged cover;
  tank settling, dislocating piping; bottom of scum within 3" of outlet bottom;
  top of sludge within 8" of outlet baffle (need pumping).
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________
  WARNING: Tanks not pumped regularly are at extra risk of hidden, potentially
  costly damage to the Absorption system. Tanks pumped immediately prior to the
  inspection may prevent normal system testing (by loading with water) and may
  indicate a history of recent problems or failures.
  OVERLOADED SYSTEMS: If the system is overloaded or you see sludge at or over
  the exit baffles, do not recommend immediate pumping until the root
  cause of the problem has been determined and corrected. Otherwise an
  objective second opinion may not be possible.

PUMPING EQUIPMENT:                    (Locate on site plan)
  PUMP-Mound     Not Visible.         Reported/observed at:________________
   Operating Satisfactorily  Y/N      Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   Single Pump/Duplex Pump            Pump Alarm System Installed Y/N
   Electrical Wiring: Not Visible     Exposed/Unsafe/Needs Repairs
   Depth of flooding in pump tank from bottom of lid to water surface _____in.
   Depth of sludge in pump tank _________ in. Tank Pumped  Y/N  Date_________
   Pump cycle/drawdown time: _____________ minutes
   Alarm installed     Y/N   Tested Y/N   Working Y/N  Separate Circuit Y/N
   Pump Chamber Capacity     Not visible  Capacity________________________
  PUMP-Ejector   Not Visible.         Reported/observed at:________________
   Operating Satisfactorily  Y/N      Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
   Electrical Wiring: Not Visible     Exposed/Unsafe/Needs Repairs
   Pump cycle/drawdown time: _____________ minutes
   Sludge in pump tank Y/N
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________
  WARNING: pump systems require a special sewage pump; use of sump pumps
  or other improper pumps will result in short, unreliable system operation.

DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATION:
                 Not Identified.     Reported/observed at:________________
                                     Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
  Damage/Defects Observed: Solids from tank, leaks, out of level, clogs___

DOSING TANK with pumps or siphons:
                 Not Identified.     Reported/observed at:________________
                                     Information Source: Seller/Realtor/Other
  Damage/Defects Observed: Solids from tank, leaks, pump defects, ________

ABSORPTION SYSTEM:                  (Locate on Site Plan if possible)
   None Present: Comments:____________________________________________________
   Elevated Sand Mound Absorption Area:___________________________
   Seepage Bed   Absorption Area:___________________________
   Trench System Absorption Area:___________________________
   Cesspool      Capacity:_____________________________ Used for Overflow Y/N
   Other:_______ Absorption Area:___________________________
   Leaching Pits/Chambers/Galleries: Number:__________________________________
   Leach Trenches: Number:_____ Length:________________ Separation:___________
   Leach Fields:   Number:_____ Dimensions:____________
   Design Defects: trench/piping at excessive slope (>25%); surface water
                   flooding; flood-prone area; rocky soils;
                   less than 10ft from property line;
                   less than 100ft from well;
                   less than 50ft from pond/stream;
   Damage/Defects Observed: Solids from tank, hydraulic failure, ponding,
    (Most          effluent, dye, odors; surface defects: grading, settlement,
     systems)      slope failure, erosion, ruts from vehicles; inspection ports
                   show uneven effluent levels in individual trench/bed;
                   encroachments onto area by drives, buildings, pools, etc.
                   exposed to runoff, roof drainage, water softener, etc.
                   vegetation, trees, ponding, other signs of failure
   Damage/Defects Observed: hydraulic failure, cover damage, inlet pipe
    (Cesspool)     damage, ground subsidence, structural collapse, plus others
                   listed above

ADDITIONAL VISUAL INSPECTION of the ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEM or WASTEWATER DISPOSAL System

 TANK COVER       OPENED  Y/N   DAMAGED Y/N   SECURE Y/N (Safety Concern)
 BAFFLES          VISIBLE Y/N   DAMAGED Y/N
 SLUDGE EXITING TANK  Y/N  (Indicates serious damage to absorption system)
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________
  WARNING: Damaged tank baffles is a strong indication of serious, potentially
  costly damage to the Absorption system. Additional inspection and possibly
  excavation will be necessary to evaluate this system.

CESSPOOL ONSITE INSPECTION SPECIFICS:   (Locate on Site Plan)
 Number and configuration:______________________________________________
 Dimensions: ___________________________________________________________
 Depth, top of liquid to inlet invert:_______________
 Depth, solids layer: _______________________________
 Depth, scum layer:   _______________________________
 Materials/Construction:________________________________________________
 Damage/Defects Observed: groundwater inflow, __________________________

Contents

Worksheet for Level 1 - Intermediate Septic Inspection

LEVEL 1 SEPTIC INSPECTION WORKSHEET - the following information is added to the LEVEL 0 Worksheet provided above. The photo at above left shows a concrete septic tank which has been opened at its inlet baffle to show the baffle top. Sewage on the baffle top tells us that this tank has been subjected to flooding, either because its outlet or absorption field are clogged, or because it has been flooded by excessive sudden inpput (or a blocked baffle). We traced this particular case to ground water entering and flooding the tank during heavy rain - a problem which was corrected quite easily and at low cost. The second photograph above shows a home made septic tank which was in total failure, discovered 24 hours after new owners moved into this home. An improper "septic test" had been performed by their home inspector. Even a minimal test, had the inspector run water into the proper drain, would have been likely to discover this condition as the tank was totally impacted with solid waste and roots. The buyers never had a chance to discover this problem since no proper septic test was performed.

 SEPTIC
 TANK INSPECTION: (Tank is located and main access is opened if accessible.)
 TANK LOCATION: (Provide site plan showing tank and other components.)
                 Depth of Tank below grade: __________
 TANK CONSTRUCTION:
                 Concrete/Steel/FRP/Site-Built:_________________(describe)
                 Dimensions:______________________________________________
 TANK CAPACITY:__________________________  From records; from permit; computed;
 TANK TOP:       Visible Y/N  Damaged Y/N  Suspect Y/N
 INLET BAFFLE:   Visible Y/N  Damaged Y/N  Suspect Y/N
 OUTLET BAFFLE:  Visible Y/N  Damaged Y/N  Suspect Y/N
 LIQUID LEVEL:   Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
 SCUM THICKNESS: ____ Satisfactory Unsatisfactory (risking exiting outlet baffle)
                 ____ Distance from top of scum to top of outlet tee or baffle
 SCUM THICKNESS: ____ Satisfactory Unsatisfactory (risking exiting outlet baffle)
                 ____ Distance from bottom of scum to base of outlet tee or baffle
 SLUDGE DEPTH:   ____ Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
                 ____ Distance from top of sludge to bottom of tank outlet baffle
 For AEROBIC TANKS: operation of compressor, propeller, motor, timer,
     alarm, and electrical components:
                  Operation:  Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
                  Support and Wiring: Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
 LINE FROM TANK TO ABSORPTION SYSTEM
  Visible Y/N     Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory:_____________________________
 DISTRIBUTION BOX: (locate on site plan)
                 ____ depth of liquid level above outlet invert
                 Y/N  liquid flow uniform into each outlet opening
                 Y/N  evidence of solids carryover in from tank
                 Y/N  evidence of solids carryover out to absorption system

ABSORPTION SYSTEM: Located Y/N   Holding water Y/N  (do not pump)
  COMMENTS:____________________________________________________________
TANK PUMPING: If tank has not been pumped within past two years and/or
  if sludge and scum levels exceed 20% of total tank depth, the tank should
  be cleaned. When cleaned, observe if the absorption system runs back into
  the tank. [General rule. See details at Tank Maintenance Chapter ...]

WARNING: A Level-1 inspection is not a warranty or guarantee that the system
will properly function for any period of time in the future; It is not
associated, certified, endorsed, by any government agency; it is not an
assurance that the soil is adequately treating effluent or that it will
continue to do so in the future.

More Reading:

• We discuss the requirements for different levels of inspections (level 0, 1, 2 septic inspections) at: Septic System Inspection Types & Inspection Levels
• Field worksheets for various types of septic system inspections can be found at Checklists for Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems
• See Septic Tank Inspection Procedure for details of inspecting septic tanks themselves and a septic tank inspection checklist.
• See Septic Field Inspection Procedure for details of inspecting septic drainfields.
• See Septic Loading and Dye Test Procedure for the details of that process
• See Septic Inspection Testing for our full list of septic inspection methods and procedures.
• See Signs of Septic System Failure: A First Step in Septic Diagnosis, for septic system failure criteria
• See our online septic system inspection course at Inspecting Onsite Waste Disposal Systems - Septic System Testing Methods & Procedures - a Classroom Presentation
• See Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining & Designing Residential Septic Systems - for our Septic Systems Online Book on this topic
  
  
• 3-SEPTIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS- the Basic Parts of a Conventional Septic Tank and Leachfield in our introductory document Home Buyer's Detailed Guide to Septic Systems - Buying a Home With a Septic Tank
• What is a Septic System An Engineer's View - Types of treatment tanks, adsorption systems, pumps, and other special equipment are discussed in some further detail in this text
• Sketches of the Septic System Components Private Sewage Disposal Systems - Septic Drawing Library
• Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners.

Contents

The Septic Systems Online Book - Where Are We?

More Information About Septic Systems - Onsite Waste Disposal Design, Maintenance, Repair

• The Septic System Information Website - Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Alternatives for on-site waste disposal

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