Bath receives DOH approval for septic system designs
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - With the spring construction season approaching, the Town of Bath recently received some news that could save homebuilders a lot of money.

The Department of Health last week advised town Supervisor Fred Muller it would approve engineered designs for septic systems that will be available for property owners in the town clerk's office.

The DOH approval means a Bath town resident would not be required to hire an engineer to design a septic system required under DOH regulations.

"If somebody's going to build a new house, they don't have to hire an engineer on their own," Muller said last week. "They can come to the town office and use one of the plans on file."

The boilerplate septic system designs were drawn up last year by Fagan Engineers, of Elmira, after the New York Legislature passed a law requiring all one-site septic systems to be designed and certified by a professional engineer. Prior to the law's passage, an engineer's participation had been required only for unconventional septic systems.

Muller estimated the town's boilerplate septic system designs could save a homeowner at least $1,000 in engineering fees.

A property owner installing a new septic system still needs a professional engineer's assistance, however, Muller noted. DOH regulations require an engineer be retained to perform a percolation test and certify a completed septic system. Muller estimated the total engineering cost would be about $800.

The Town of Bath purchased the engineering designs from Fagan Engineering last year for $1,500. Muller noted he has received only verbal approval from DOH, although he expects to receive official notice soon.

"We wanted to get the go ahead in time for spring construction," he said.