Caroline County allows property owners or applicants to select and prepare the areas they wish the Health Department to evaluate for on-site sewage disposal.  The Soil and Site evaluation process is expensive and may be very time consuming.  We strongly recommend contracting the services of licensed professionals skilled in land development and knowledgeable about our evaluation criteria.  We have a list of such professionals available to the public.   These licensed professionals have diverse qualifications and may be helpful in selecting the best area for on-site sewage disposal.   Their opinion may be valuable.   However, our job is to conduct the evaluation; look at the site, topography, soils data, gather water table information (during wet season if deemed necessary) and assess percolation rates.   Once all the information is received, our decision will be given to you in writing.   If you wish to contest a decision, contact our office. DO NOT have a licensed professional do additional work at this time. It is the owner's/applicant's responsibility to have test sites preserved for future reference. Test site and piezometer locations for major and minor subdivisions must be located and platted by a licensed surveyor/engineer.

Always check with Caroline County Planning and Codes Office (410-479-8100) before beginning a project.

It is the owner’s/applicant’s responsibility to have test sites preserved for future reference.

Test sites for major and minor subdivisions must be located and platted by a licensed surveyor/engineer.

Some common misconceptions regarding perc tests are;

• Sand Mounds are the solution to sites that won’t perc.   False, some sites do not have mound potential.
  
• Soils Consultants approve sites.   False, Soil consultants suggest testing sites.

There are four steps in the soil and site evaluation process:

1. Decide which type of test you desire. See Instructions for completing the Soil and Site Evaluation Application.

2. Site Selection- There are licensed professionals who can be very helpful in selecting a potential Sewage Reserve Area (SRA). When selecting a SRA test site keep in mind that the area you need to reserve could be 10,000 to 17,000 square feet and must meet certain setbacks:

• 50’-150’ from water wells. This depends on water well construction and the ultimate treatment zone under your proposed sewage disposal system.* A sanitarian will tell you what setback is needed.
• 25’-150’ from drain tiles, drainage swales, ditches and perennial and annual streams and waterways. This depends on the ultimate treatment zone under your proposed sewage disposal system.* Consult a sanitarian if the test site is less than 150 feet from any water body or drain tile.
• 10’ from property lines.
• Soils must have acceptable percolation rates and saturation buffers.

3. Prepare site as outlined in “Site Preparation”.

4. Apply for the soil and site evaluation.

*Treatment zone is usually determined by wet season testing