Septic inspections in Rhode Island

Buying a home

Two things are worth doing before you're committed:

• Find out what's there. Search for the property's septic permit records, which DEM makes available online. If nothing turns up, or the system is old, hire an inspector.
• Use your inspection window. If the home may be served by a cesspool, the purchase contract gives you ten days to have the system inspected, unless you and the seller agree on something different.

If the inspection finds a cesspool, the one-year replacement rule applies after closing, and that belongs in your negotiation.

Selling a home

If you don't know whether the property has a cesspool or a septic system, state law calls for a system inspector to make that determination before the sale. Knowing early helps you price the house honestly and avoids a surprise in the middle of a deal.

Towns that require inspections on a schedule

Several towns have wastewater management ordinances that require routine inspections whether or not you're selling. For example:

• North Kingstown: inspected or pumped once every three years.
• Charlestown: inspected at least once every three years.
• Portsmouth: routine inspections every five years, every two years for a cesspool.
• South Kingstown, Jamestown, Tiverton, and New Shoreham also require inspections at regular intervals.

Other towns, including Coventry, Glocester, Scituate, Johnston, Hopkinton, and Richmond, encourage inspections without requiring them. Your town hall can tell you where you stand.

Who can inspect

Towns with inspection programs generally keep a list of approved inspectors, and they typically require training through the University of Rhode Island's onsite wastewater program. If your town has a list, use someone on it, or the inspection may not count.

What an inspection covers

Expect the inspector to locate the system, open the tank, check liquid and sludge levels, and look at the condition of the tank, the pipes, and the drainfield. Some inspections include pumping. You should get a written report, and in towns with programs, a copy goes to the town.

If something's wrong

An inspection that turns up a failing system isn't the end of a sale, but it does start a conversation about repair, price, and timing. See repair and replacement.