Fulton County Health Department

Installer Requirements

The Fulton County Health Department requires a soil and site evaluation conducted by a certified soil scientist for all new and repair septic systems. The soil report must include a minimum of three borings (described in full) with a minimum of two borings in the proposed leach field. Enclosed is an updated list of Indiana’s Registered Soil Scientists. This list can also be obtained at the Fulton County Health Department. The soil scientist’s report must either be hand delivered, mailed, e-mailed, or faxed to the Health Department by the soil scientist. The Fulton County Health Department will not accept soil reports from anyone other than the soil scientist.

The Fulton County Environmentalist will determine requirements regarding the proposed septic system after reviewing the soil scientist’s report and regulations set forth in Ordinance 120108 and Rule 410 IAC 6-8.2. The Fulton County Health Department will then issue a preliminary septic approval letter to the property owner.

Prior to the issuance of a permit the following items must be completed:

(1) The Installer must be certified to install a septic system in Fulton County per the rules and regulations set forth in County Ordinance 120108.

All septic installers are required to submit a sketch of the septic system design prior to the issuance of a septic permit. The septic system sketch must contain the following items:

1. Septic installer’s name, address and phone number

2. Site address and property owner’s name

3. Boring locations

4. All parts of the system and a cross section of the system

5. Property boundaries and dimensions

6. Footprint of all existing or proposed structures-including driveways

7. Slope

8. Septic Tank capacity and manufacturer

9. Dose Tank capacity and manufacturer

a. Effluent Pump manufacturer, model number and pump curve

10. Residential Sewer pipe ASTM number, diameter, and SDR

11. Effluent Filter manufacturer, model number, and capacity

12. Gravity Effluent pipe ASTM number, diameter, and SDR

13. Gravity Header pipe ASTM number, diameter, and SDR

14. Dose Delivery/Force Main ASTM number, diameter, and SDR

15. Required Elevations (laser or transit)

a. Elevations at the beginning, middle and end of each run/lateral of the absorption field and non-traditional systems, including drainage (outlet and four corners)

b. Elevations of the septic tank (dose tank - where applicable)

c. Elevations of the distribution box

16. Compass directions (at least north)

17. Wells

a. Separation distance to closest component of the septic system

b. Neighbor’s well separation distance to closest component of the septic system

18. Gravity absorption system

a. Number of trenches

b. Separation distance

c. If a stone system: the type of pipe, amount of pipe, size of the pipe being used, type of stone, amount of stone, and stone distributor. In addition, the amount of stone below and on top of the pipe must be specified. As well as the hole orientation of the pipe in the trench(es). The holes in the laterals must be placed at 12 o’clock, 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock if a three hole lateral pipe is used or 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock if a two hole lateral pipe is used. Furthermore, each lateral end must be capped. (The hole within the laterals and capping of the ends of each lateral are required to obtain equal distribution throughout the entire length of the lateral(s) per Rule 410 IAC 6-8.1.)

d. Trench width

e. Trench depth

f. Trench length

g. Perimeter tile depth (where applicable)

h. If chambers: manufacturer and model number

Self-installers must physically stake out all the components of the proposed septic system. Once all the components of the septic system are staked out the self-installer will need to schedule an appointment with the Environmental Specialist to look at and approve the layout of the septic system.

The Fulton County Health Department will NOT accept any sketch of the septic system prior to the Fulton County Environmentalist’s issuance of the preliminary septic approval letter. Any drawing submitted prior to the issuance of the preliminary septic approval letter will be returned to the property owner.

The Fulton County Health Department requires all installers to follow ALL the rules and requirements set forth in the attached Indiana State Department of Health’s list of acceptable pipe document, Rule 410, County Ordinance 120108, the Indiana State Department of Health Construction Guidelines for Gravity and Flood-Dose Trench Onsite Systems document, and this document.

The installer must notify the Environmental Specialist 2 business days prior to needing a septic system inspection. Requirements regarding the issuance of a septic permit will not be considered fulfilled until the installation is completed, inspected, and approved to the satisfaction of the Environmental Specialist. In order to conduct the final inspection the following items must be visible or open at the time of the inspection:

1. Residential sewer pipe

2. Septic tank

3. Effluent filter

4. Gravity Effluent Pipe

5. Dose tank (where applicable)

6. Dose delivery/force main (where applicable)

7. Distribution box

8. Gravity header pipe

9. Absorption field – one run/lateral must be completely left open, than each subsequent line must have at least ten (10) feet open at the beginning and end.

10. Drainage (four corners, the stone side, and outlet)

If the above items are NOT left open, for inspection, the Installer will be required to uncover them.

Self-installers must leave each run/line of the septic system absorption field open for inspection.

Reminders:

1. The lateral holes in a stone and pipe system must be placed at 12 o’clock, 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock if a three hole lateral pipe is used or 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock if a two hole lateral pipe is used.

2. A ninety (90) degree elbow must be installed in the distribution box with a vent in the top.

3. The installer is responsible for abiding by and understanding all the rules and regulations set forth in Rule 410 and County Ordinance 120108.

4. Piping used in a residential on-site sewage system shall meet or exceed the applicable standards in 410 IAC 6-8.2-62 (page 15).

You can reach the Environmental Specialist daily between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday; and 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday at (574) 223-7730.