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Who We Are:
Welcome to the website of the Maine Association of Site Evaluators!
We are a group of licensed professionals who design septic systems – subsurface wastewater systems comprised of septic tanks, leach fields, and other components for domestic and non-domestic use.
If you are building a new home or structure, we are one of the first people to call in order to find out if the land is “buildable”. We are proficient in soil science and know the state code front to back. We can help you figure out where to site a building on a property and how it might function best based on the existing landscape.
You may also contact us if:
- You have an old septic system that needs to be replaced because it is failing
- You are expanding your existing structure or use
- You have an Overboard Discharge that needs renewal or removal
- You are not ready to build yet but want to make sure the land “percs” before you buy or sell.
FAQs:
What is a “soil test” or “perc test”?
Your realtor might tell you that you need a perc test or soil test in order to
purchase a piece of land. What that means is that you need to hire a Licensed Site
Evaluator to walk the parcel to determine where it may be suitable to put a leach field.
Sometimes it could be anywhere on the property, sometimes it could be a very
small area. We make our determinations by observing uplands vs. wetlands, slope,
landscape features such as shoreline, streams, topography, etc. We will bring a hand
auger or sometimes a backhoe to dig a test pit to observe the type of soil that exists
on the property, and the depth to a restrictive layer. A restrictive layer is a seasonal
high or perched water table that leaves indications in the soil that we can observe even
if there is no water present, bedrock or ledge, or a firm layer that restricts the flow of
water into the soil.
What is a septic design?
A septic design utilizes the information that we collect during a preliminary soil
evaluation (or “perc test”) and includes schematics about the type of leach field and
location, tank size and location, and all required setbacks determined by the state. The
HHE-200 form is a septic design. An excavating contractor will use this form to
build the septic system and they will need a copy of the design in order to give you a
quote. The town office also requires an HHE-200 in order to approve a building
permit. Even if no building is occurring and just the leach field is being built or
altered, the town still needs to issue a permit.
What do I do with an HHE-200 once I receive it from a Licensed Site Evaluator?
You will need to send a copy to any excavating contractors you may be working with.
Before you bring it to the town, make sure you review the information and sign any
pages that require your signature.
What do I need to have ready before hiring a Licensed Site Evaluator?
First of all, we need to know where we are going. An address is helpful, but even
better is a survey, plot plan, subdivision plan, or tax map and lot number. Building
plans are also useful. If you only have a sketch of the property because it hasn’t been
cut off yet, that’s fine. We will also need your name, mailing address, email, and phone
number for the HHE-200 form. For a property in an existing neighborhood, it is very
helpful if you can familiarize yourself with the location of your neighbors’ wells and
all property boundaries. This can be very important in densely packed areas and
properties near a water body.
What do I need to know about septic systems?
- Always pump your tank every 3-5 years depending on your use
- Leach fields eventually fail overtime. That is a normal aspect to their lifecycle, which
can vary from 15-25 years on average. This range depends on the types of soil and
heavy or light use of the property owner. - The components of a leach field include a septic tank (which some people just call
“the septic”), possibly a pump that might exist inside the tank or outside of the tank,
the effluent line that goes to the leach field, the disposal bed (aka leach field), and the
fill extensions.
Do we do wetland delineations?
Some of us do and some do not. Depends on each site evaluator.
Do we do land surverys?
No, we are not land surveyors. There may be some of our members who have both
licenses, but generally you will need to hire another professional to complete a survey
for you.