Septic and Title 5 in Grafton

Sewer or septic? Don't assume. Check your bill for a sewer charge, or ask the town. If you're billed for sewer, Title 5 doesn't apply to you.

What Grafton's Board of Health has asked of homeowners

The Board has put out reminders for septic owners over the years. Confirm current expectations with the Health Department, but these are worth knowing:

• Clean the effluent filter at least once a year if your tank has one. A clogged filter is one of the most common causes of slow drains and backups.
• Keep tank covers secure. Plastic covers should be bolted down or buried, and concrete covers should be solid, with no cracks.
• Be careful with a garbage disposal. Under state rules, a system built to handle one needs a two-compartment tank and a leaching area half again as large as normal. Few older systems were designed that way.

Planning an addition or renovation?

This catches Grafton homeowners off guard. A project that adds floor space or changes the footprint of the house has to meet Title 5's setback and compliance rules, and it needs a sign-off from the Health Department. Adding a bedroom can mean the system has to grow too, since septic systems are sized to bedroom count. Talk to the Health Department before the builder draws final plans.

Selling in Grafton

The state's Title 5 inspection rule applies here like everywhere else: the system has to be inspected within two years before the sale. Do it early. If something fails, you'll want time to get an engineer in and a plan in front of the Board of Health before a closing date is bearing down on you. Read how Title 5 inspections work and what happens if a system fails.

On a private well too?

Some septic homes in Grafton also have a private well. The distance between the two matters under Title 5, and it can limit where a replacement system can go. Tell any engineer or installer about the well at the start.

Questions worth asking in Grafton

• Does the Health Department have a plan or permit on file for my system?
• When was the effluent filter last cleaned, and does my tank even have one?
• Would my planned addition trigger a system upgrade?
• If I'm selling, how long is the Board of Health's plan review running right now?

Tell us on the form: that you're in Grafton, whether you're selling or renovating, whether you have a well, and anything you know about the system's age.