"YOU ASKED" What questions should I ask during a real estate transaction of a property with a septic system?

I am buying, what should I ask the vendor?
If you are buying a property with an on-site system, you should ask the following questions:

• How old is the system?
• Does the system have a permit? Ask for a copy.
• Is the septic system working properly (no sewage back-up, foul odours noticed)?
• Where is the septic tank and leaching bed?
• How often has the tank been pumped? By whom?
• Have there been any repairs? If so, what did they consist of? Who performed them? What was the cost?

I am selling a property with an on-site system, what should I tell the buyer??
If you are selling your property, you should give the buyer the following tips:

• Pump the tank every 3 - 5 years;
• Do not pour hazardous chemicals down the drain, harmful chemicals will pass through the system and may end up in the groundwater;
• Do not use septic tank additives (not proven effective, may be harmful);
• practice water conservation (less water used, the less your system has to treat);
• Don't use a garborator;
• Must have a permit to repair a system;
• Must contact local inspector if putting an addition onto the house, or adding a Jacuzzi or pool etc.;
• Divert roof drains away from the tank and drainfield (can overload >saturate= the soil in the area).

What should I look for when assessing a property?
Look for the following items when assessing a property with an on-site system:

• Presence and location of the septic tank and the leaching bed;
• Accessibility of tank for maintenance;
• Roof drains directed onto the leaching bed;
• Leaching bed has been shaped to shed water;
• Trees and bushes are planted away from the leaching bed

Source:  Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre