TheLandJournal.com

While most cities and inner suburban neighborhoods have public sewer and water systems that feed residential houses, these services are seldom available in rural areas. It becomes cost prohibitive to provide that type of infrastructure over such a large area. As a result, the burden falls upon the property owner to provide their own well and septic if they plan to construct a home on a particular site.

Most second or vacation home properties have their own well and septic on-site, however, this may not be true when the home-site or house is in a very large community where the amenities, including sewer and water, would be self-contained in the development. More often than not, land owners will require their own on-site well and septic. If one is considering buying
land where installation of a well and septic is going to be necessary, there are some important things to consider. First, have the soils been tested or examined to determine if an on-site septic system would be approved. If they have been tested, do the results of those tests appear to indicate that an expensive septic system will be required or will a moderately priced subsurface
system be sufficient? Also, is there enough room, per the town regulations, to place a house, a well and a septic on the lot?

When considering a purchase of land, ideally the property will have been soil tested to determine whether an on-site septic would be approved through the state subsurface system bureau. The testing engineer will then submit the application to the state for approval. The application will be reviewed for compliance with all state regulations including whether the well and house locations
on the plan are a suitable distance apart. Once subsurface approval is received, you may then submit your building application to receive a building permit.

The cost of a septic system is typically determined by how elaborate the system’s construction is. For example, a severely sloping piece of land or one with substantial wetlands and a high water table may require more construction to accommodate a septic system. These are factors to be aware of when buying land.

When it comes to understanding wells and the potential cost associated with them, it is important to do a little homework. Find out through local well companies what their typical price range has been to install wells in the area you may be looking in.

It is important to have an understanding of the issues surrounding well and septic before you buy a piece of land. Competent and reputable developers will already have done a soils test of the land and have it available for your review before you purchase. By choosing a reputable developer like Northern Acres (www.NorthernAcres.com), many of your potential headaches are taken care of
ahead of time.

About Northern Acres
Northern Acres is a New Hampshire-based land development company specializing in the sale of both residential and recreational land in the White Mountains and Coastal regions of New Hampshire for more than 21 years. There are no builder tie-ins and no time frame to build.

For More Information
For additional information on Northern Acres or to learn more about our products and services, please visit www.NorthernAcres.com or call our toll free number, 1-877-640-LAND (5263).