InspectAPedia ^TM

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice

InspectAPedia
Home

Air
Conditioning

Plumbing
Water
Septic

Roofing

Structure

Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building

SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS

  SEPTIC CLEARANCES
  WELL CLEARANCES
   US-HUD/FHA WELL CLEARANCES
   US-EPA WELL CLEARANCES
More Information

InspectAPedia Home & Site Map
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Roofing
Plumbing Water Septic
Structure
Accuracy & Bias Pledge
Contact Us

Photograph of a well less than 10 ft from a house foundation - this may be fine until there is a need to treat the building for termites. A well too close to the building precludes some pesticide applications out of
concern for contaminating the well.

Online Table of Required Well Clearances: Distances Between Drinking Water Wells and Septic Systems, Treated Soils, Farm Buildings, & Other Site Features
WaterAPedia ^©

Setbacks and clearances for wells

Distances from private well to other site features

U.S. HUD/FHA Well Clearance Distances Table

U.S. EPA Well Clearance Distances

Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

Well clearances and distances to other site features: This document provides a table giving the required distances between wells and other site features which could affect drinking water quality - potential sources of well contamination. If a property takes its drinking water supply from a site where these distances are violated, or where there are other reasons to be concerned for water quality, the well water should be tested regularly. Our procedure is to perform an extensive broad-spectrum water test, depending on what we know about the property, its history, and its location. We're not only concerned for bacterial contamination - the common "water coliform test". Water serving a farmhouse near an apple orchard might get extra testing for pesticides or fertilizers. Water at a property where fuels or heating oil were stored close to a well may need water testing for petroleum products. Site features which risk well contamination include nearby cesspools, drywells (for gray water), soils which have been chemically treated, such as to provide a termite barrier, farm buildings, manure piles, livestock yards, silos, and fertilizer storage. Consideration should also be given to surface water runoff from adjoining properties, orchards (pesticide-treated), highways and roads, or properties with above ground or buried storage tanks such as for heating oil, fuel oil, or farm and orchard chemicals. Also see Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures and for other site clearance distances see SEPTIC CLEARANCES for required distances between septic systems and other site features.

The table below gives distance requirements between drinking water supply wells and septic systems, farm buildings, chemically-treated soils (such as for termites) and other property features which may affect drinking water quality. Common guidelines require at least 50' clearance distance between a well and a septic system tank or 150' between a well and a septic drainfield or leaching bed but you will see that different authorities may recommend different distances. Local soil and rock conditions can make these "rules of thumb" unreliable. See the U.S. "One and Two Family Dwelling Code, Section P-2510-Combined Seepage Pits and Disposal Fields," and Table P-2504, "Location of Sewage Disposal System." Other references are cited at the end of this table. A separate table SEPTIC CLEARANCES gives the required distances between septic systems and other site features.

Online Tables of Required Well Clearances to Site Features

US-HUD/FHA Well Clearance Distances

US-HUD/FHA Distances from Well to: Note 1 below
Property line			10
Septic tank			50
Absorption field			75 (may be modified based on local conditions)
Seepage pit			75 (may be modified based on local conditions)
Absorption pit			75 (may be modified based on local conditions)
Sewer line			10 if line has permanent watertight joints
Other sewer line			50
Chemically poisoned soil			25
Dry well			50

TABLE NOTES:
Distances are in feet unless otherwise stated
-1 Distance from source of pollution - proposed construction, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, FHA, Local acceptable standard No. 3, June 18, 1992, Ref. Hud Handbook 4910.1 Chg 1, Appendix K, Pg K-27

These tables give typical required clearances for septic tank, soil absorption system (SAS), etc. but you will see that different authorities may recommend different distances. These distances are for conventional onsite waste disposal systems which specify clearances presuming that effluent is being disposed-of after minimal treatment such as is received by a septic tank or cesspool. Advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as those described by Jantrania and Gross (2006), permit substantial reduction in these clearances, depending on the level of treatment achieved.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Well Clearance Distances

US-EPA Distances from Well to:
Septic tanks			50
Septic leach fields			50
Livestock yards			50
Silos			50
Petroleum Tanks			100
Liquid Tight Manure Storage			100
Pesticide & Fertilizer Storage & Handling			100
Manure stacks			250
Water supply piping to Septic Tank/Field			10

TABLE NOTES:
Distances are in feet unless otherwise stated
EPA references above and for other EPA information see Well Construction and Maintenance [Details to Help Avoid Well Water Contamination] US EPA

The Septic Systems Online Book - Where Are We?

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

Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures
SEPTIC CLEARANCES for required distances between septic systems and other site features.
Inspecting Septic Systems: Inspection, Test, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance: Our Online Septic Book: Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, details of onsite waste disposal system inspection, testing, repair procedures.
The Septic System Information Website - Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Alternatives for on-site waste disposal
Alternative & Advanced Designs for Septic Systems for discussion and links to (on-site waste disposal) System Designs for Problem Sites & Soils. Books, Consultants, Engineers, Designers. Alternative septic system designs can substantially reduce the normal required distances between septic system components and wells, lakes, streams, and property boundaries.

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Research & Advice

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

GO TO our PRE PURCHASE BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES: Authoritative information for home buyers and home owners is included with your inspection. Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

InspectAPedia TM