My land won't perk (perc?)?

Question

My husband and I are looking to build a house on some land behind our currently residence in a few years, but the land won't perk. What does that mean, and what are some options for us?

Answer 1

Percolation........it doesn't drain. For some reason water doen't move through the soil: high water table, some impervious layer preventing drainage (rock, caliche, whatever).

If you put a house there, the basement walls and floor would constantly ooze water. A septic system would have to be contained, that is no leach field, and pumped almost monthly. No swimming pool, they pop out of the ground unless constantly filled. Any additional rain would turn the land to a quagmire.

So any house would have to be elevated above ground level perhaps by bringing in dirt and creating a platform. Septic as I mentioned. Driveway should also be elevated.

Could be the county has limitations on building on such lands.

Answer 2

Do you have septic tank existing at your currant residence?
If so then use existing septic system and add a pump from your new home site.
OR
find any area on your land that does perk and put septic tank and field lines there an have a pump installed from your new home site.
There are always options that a the health department agent may not tell you about.
They are government employees and not the most helpful people in the world.

Lastly you could wait for sewer lines to be installed on the highway you live on.

Answer 3

Land Perk

Answer 4

We have lived in our ho u as over 20 yrs. We were told that the land did perv but ever since we moved in we have constant issues with standing water and having to constantly get septic tank pumped. We even put in New drain fields which is very expensive. What can we do to stop this problem?

Answer 5

It means that the soil will not absorb liquid, and you cannot use a septic tank system for waste. (Because septic tanks depend on liquids bing absorbed into the ground thru field lines.)
You will need to consult with an engineer to see what grade work will be required before you can build.

Answer 6

Your land will not accomadate a septic tank without some sort of work done. This may require you to find other sewege options. Check out this site:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic/index.cfm

Answer 7

this means that the ground is hard pan or clay or rock and will not allow drain water to "percolate" through the soil to allow drainage of your proposed system. there are alternatives such as deep drainage wells or excavating enough area to a sufficient depth and filling with gravel to provide a drain field
you probably will have to get a soils engineer to recommend a solution

Answer 8

if a land dosent perc can you still have water service just for animals?