Septic & well guide
Septic site-plan checklist before you buy or build
A usable site plan does more than mark a tank. It shows the features that compete for land now and the repair area the property may need later.
Map the fixed features first
Start with property boundaries, the proposed or existing home footprint, private well, driveway, surface waters, drainage features, easements and utilities. Add the septic tank, treatment components and the full absorption area when known.
Protect the future repair area
Some programs require a replacement/reserve area, and others address future repair capacity through their own site rules. Do not casually place a garage, pool, driveway or major landscaping feature over land that may be needed for future onsite treatment.
Add vertical information
Horizontal distances alone cannot tell you whether soil treatment will work. Site evaluation may need soil profile information, depth to a limiting layer, seasonal high groundwater, slope and other conditions defined by the permitting program.
Collect records before redesigning the lot
- Approved septic permit or as-built plan.
- Well construction record if available.
- Recent septic inspection and pumping records.
- Survey or recorded plat.
- Any repair permits, variances or notices.
- Local setback and design-flow requirements.
Then run the property screen
Enter the distances you know and the local minimums you have verified. The unresolved “verify” items become your next calls before you spend on detailed design.
Interactive site-plan builder
What is still missing from your property sketch?
Check only the features you can actually locate from a survey, permit/as-built, field markings or a reliable record. The result turns the missing pieces into a short fieldwork list.
What a useful sketch should let you answer
| Question | What must be visible | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Can the well and septic coexist? | Well, tank, drainfield | You need separate tank→well and drainfield→well measurements. |
| Can the house move or expand? | Foundation, field, reserve area | A future addition can consume treatment or repair space. |
| Is a driveway competing with septic? | Traffic area, field, tank lids | Loading and access can matter even when the current plumbing works. |
| What still needs site evaluation? | Soils, slope, high water, limiting layers | A flat drawing cannot prove vertical treatment conditions. |
Apply it to your property.
Enter the clearances you measured and the local minimums you have verified.
Run the property screenPrimary sources for this guide are listed in the Dakiv source library. Local rules control permit decisions.