Amended/Revised Plans For Subsurface Disposal Systems

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Subsurface Systems Bureau requires construction and operational approvals for all new and expanded subsurface sewage disposal systems. Approvals are issued after review of plans and specifications submitted by the applicant. DES administrative rule Env-Wq 1003.15. (a) requires that “the plan approved by DES shall be the final plan.”
In spite of this requirement, DES realizes that plans, notably those involving new home construction, are usually designed before trees are cut or lot filling begins. In many cases, the new homeowner wishes to change the location of the home to take advantage of the best view, because of soil conditions encountered, or other reasons. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary that an originally submitted plan be amended or revised to reflect altered situations. DES must then review and approve such amended and revised plans.

When Are Amended Plans Needed?

For an individual sewage disposal system, where the location of the leaching bed has not changed but any other component of the system has been moved, a new application for construction approval shall not be required. These changes are documented utilizing AMENDED plans. The amended plans must be prepared and stamped by the licensed designer who prepared the approved plan. When the homeowner prepared the initial design for his/her primary domicile he/she may prepare the amended plan.

In order to reduce the number of unnecessary field re-inspections, DES requires that the amended plans be available at the time of the initial inspection request. The plans can be delivered to the inspector’s office or left at the job site, sealed in a stout plastic bag and left in the distribution box. If the plans are not available for the inspector, he will issue a DO NOT BACKFILL report. Plans must then be submitted to the DES Concord office for re-approval. The usual review fee will be required. No fee is required for amended plans when available at the time of inspection. If the town requires local review of the plans, the amended plans should be stamped and/or initialed by the appropriate town official.

When Are Revised Plans Needed?

If the location of the leaching bed for an individual sewage disposal system has been moved horizontally or vertically from the location shown on the approved plan, revised plans must be submitted (with fee) to DES for approval. Revised plans are also required if an effluent pump has been added to or deleted from the design. This is usually done as a result of a change of elevation of the house. Revised plans are required if the footprint or elevation of the leaching bed is changed from the previously approved design.

For Further Information
If you have any questions concerning septic systems, contact DES Subsurface at (603) 271-3501, or PO Box 95 - 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03302-0095; (603) 271-3711; Fax: (603) 271-6683; www.des.nh.gov/ssb/.