Online Table of Required Septic Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.
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Clearances for septic tank, drainfield, soakaway bed, & wells: distances to other site features: this document provides typical septic tank and field clearances. In this file a detailed septic distances table describes distance requirements between septic components (septic tank, leach field, cesspools, drywells) and other site features such as wells, water supply piping, streams, trees, property boundaries, lakes, etc.
Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical review by industry experts has been performed and comments from readers are welcomed. Contributors are listed at the end of each article.
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Online Table of Required Septic - Well Clearances
Readers will find more details about septic system clearances and issues at Neighboring Septic System Problems. Also see WELL CLEARANCES for required distances between wells and septic systems and
other site features. In general, septic effluent must be disposed of on the property from which it originates.
However more strict clearances
and distances than this are required between various onsite wastewater treatment system components and buildings, property boundaries,
lakes, streams, wells, and so on, as detailed in the table below. Contact us with corrections or additions to this data.
This set of tables below gives distance requirements between septic components and wells, streams, trees, property boundaries, lakes, etc. Common guidelines require at least 50' clearance distance between a well and a septic system tank or 150' between
a well and a septic drainfield or leaching bed but you will see that different authorities may recommend different distances.
Local soil and rock conditions can make these "rules of thumb" unreliable. See "One and Two Family Dwelling Code, Section P-2510-Combined Seepage Pits and Disposal Fields," and Table P-2504, "Location of Sewage Disposal System." Other references are cited at the end of this table.
| Septic System Clearances from Wells, buildings, & Other Site Features |
| Min. Separation From | Septic Tank | Drainfield | Lagoon | Mass.Title 5 | . | UPC | General |
| . | EPA | General | FL | MO | MA | NY | . | . |
| Structures to Tank/SAS | - | 10 ft
5-MO
15-bsmt-MO | 5 ft | 100 ft | 8 ft | - | 10 ft | - |
| Structures to Sewer Line | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 ft |
| Property line to | - | 5
10-MO | 10 | 75 | 5 | - | - | - |
| Neighboring residence | - | -
- | - | 200 | - | - | - | - |
| Water supply piping to | - | 10 | 10 | 10 | - | - | - | - |
WATER SUPPLY PIPING
under suction | - | 10 | - | 100 | - | - | - | - |
| Non-potable water well | - | - | 50 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Water supply well | 50 | 50 | 75 | - | 100 | 50 | - | - |
| Public water well | - | - | 200 | 300 | - | 100 ? | - | 50 |
| Cistern - definition | - | - | - | 25 | - | - | - | - |
| Spring | - | 50-MO | - | 100 | - | - | - | - |
| Streams | - | 50 | - | 25 | 50 | - | - | 50 |
| Swimming Pool - see details | - | 15-MO | - | 100 | - | - | - | - |
| Large Trees | - | 10 | - | - | ? | - | - | - |
| High water line of lake etc | - | - | 75 | - | - | - | - | - |
Soil Absorption System above
groundwater (water
table) | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - |
| Soil Absorption Sys. Min Area | - | - | - | - | - | - | 150 | - |
| Tank cover soil backfill min/max | - | 6"-?" | - | - | 12"-24" | - | - | - |
Intercept drain
up-slope | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - |
Intercept drain
down-slope | - | - | - | 25 | - | - | - | - |
| Edge of surficial sinkholes | - | - | - | 500 | - | - | - | - |
Embankment top or
Cuts >= 2ft hgt | - | - | - | 20 | - | - | - | - |
| Other SAS exc repair area | - | - | - | 20 | - | - | - | - |
Cesspool Clearances and Specifications |
| Cesspools min. freeboard | - | - | - | - | - | 6" | - | - |
| Minimum volume | - | - | - | - | - | 1/2 day | - | - |
| Separation from Surface Water Supply | - | - | - | - | - | 100 | - | - |
| Separation from private well | - | - | - | - | - | 50 | - | - |
| Separation from private well, bad sample | - | - | - | - | - | 50-100 | - | - |
TABLE NOTES:
Distances are in feet unless otherwise stated
SAS = Soil Absorption System - Leach Field etc.
Mass.Title5 = Massachusetts Title 5 Septic Code
FL = Florida septic component clearances table
MA = Massachusetts septic component clearances table
MO = Missouri septic component clearances table - Missouri distances and septic lagoon system clearances to other site features
University of Missouri extension lagoon web page muextension.missouri.edu/explore/envqual/wq0402.htm
NY = New York State septic component clearances table
UPC = Uniform Plumbing Code
-1 Distance from source of pollution - proposed construction,
US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, FHA, Local acceptable standard
No. 3, June 18, 1992, Ref. Hud Handbook 4910.1 Chg 1, Appendix K, Pg K-27
EPA references above and for other EPA information see Well Construction and Maintenance [Details to Help Avoid Well Water Contamination]
US EPA
These septic information tables give typical required clearances for septic tank, soil absorption system (SAS), etc.
but you will see that different authorities may recommend different distances.
These distances are
for conventional onsite waste disposal systems which specify clearances presuming that effluent is being
disposed-of after minimal treatment such as is received by a septic tank or cesspool. Advanced onsite
wastewater treatment systems, such as those described by Jantrania and Gross (2006), permit substantial
reduction in these clearances, depending on the level of treatment achieved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006). Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives. Written for designers and engineers, this book is not at all easy going for homeowners but is a text I recommend for professionals--DF.
- Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP;
Quoting from Amazon's description: For the homebuilder, one mistake in estimating or installing wells and septic systems can cost thousands of dollars. This comprehensive guide filled with case studies can prevent that. Master plumber R. Dodge Woodson packs this reader-friendly guide with guidance and information, including details on new techniques and materials that can economize and expedite jobs and advice on how to avoid mistakes in both estimating and construction. Chapters cover virtually every aspect of wells and septic systems, including on-site evaluations; site limitations; bidding; soil studies, septic designs, and code-related issues; drilled and dug wells, gravel and pipe, chamber-type, and gravity septic systems; pump stations; common problems with well installation; and remedies for poor septic situations. Woodson also discusses ways to increase profits by avoiding cost overruns.
- Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System, Hartigan, Gerry: $ 9.95; ALAN C HOOD & TP;
Quoting an Amazon reviewer's comment, with which we agree--DF:This book is informative as far as it goes and might be most useful for someone with an older system. But it was written in the early 1980s. A lot has changed since then. In particular, the book doesn't cover any of the newer systems that are used more and more nowadays in some parts of the country -- sand mounds, aeration systems, lagoons, etc.
