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Land & Septic Services
From your first consultation through permitting and final design, Canfield Land and Septic provides personalized guidance to help homeowners, builders, and landowners navigate Montana's septic approval process with confidence.
Initial Consultation
Site Evaluation
Septic Design and Local Application
DEQ Subdivision Application
Initial Consultation
Land development can be a complicated endeavor. The first step is determining what is feasible. There are many factors that need to be considered when determining the path forward. On site septic is critical in the decision making process and I can use my experience here in Southwest Montana to help you form a clear plan. Other factors such as water and power need to be considered, also. I can meet you on site to discuss your ideas and how they might be made possible.
Site Evaluation
The Site Evaluation is an important step towards obtaining a Septic System Permit to Construct. Once a construction development plan is established, a day and time will be scheduled with the local Health Department and backhoe operator so the chosen drain field site can be evaluated. The site will be evaluated for set backs from surface water existing or proposed wells, and flood plains. Soils need to be evaluated and test pits will show whether there are limiting layers in the soil profile that will inhibit effluent absorption.
Septic Design and Local Application
The septic design process can begin after the site evaluation. Effluent application rate is determined by analysis of the soils from the test pits and is used to size the drain field laterals. A site plan of the property showing the property boundaries, proposed and existing wells, surface water, test pit locations, proposed and existing dwellings, and proposed or existing septic systems is necessary within the application in order for the reviewer to issue an approval. Along with setbacks, the reviewer will need to verify that groundwater and surface water will not be adversely affected by the nitrates and phosphorus that the effluent will introduce into the soil.
DEQ Rewrite for Lots in a Subdivision
Most parcels under 20 acres are subject to State review as mandated by the Sanitation Act. In the subdivision process, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reviews any residential or commercial developments on lots under 20 acres (existing or proposed) for septic, potable water, and storm water mitigation. Once the State reviewer is satisfied that a development meets all regulations pertaining to these issues, and Local approval is obtained, a Certificate of Subdivision Approval (COSA) is issued. A COSA can apply to just 1 parcel or many parcels and the language within provides exactly what is approved for each parcel. If a lot is approved for a single family dwelling and the owner wants to add a guest house, then a “Rewrite” of the existing COSA is necessary. A COSA for this example would specify what each lot is approved for. Because a COSA requires a more thorough review, a “rewrite” is a bit more work than a local septic application that is typical on parcels 20 acres or larger.
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