Septic Services

Septic System Design

Dolby and Associates has been designing septic systems for over 27 years in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We have handled projects ranging from large commercial sites to developments to single family homes.

We design all types of septic systems (Delaware Class B & C Designs) including LPP systems, elevated sand mounds, pressure dosed beds or trenches, drip systems, peat filtration systems holding tanks and all types of pretreatment systems. We design both small residential systems and large on-site systems. In Delaware we work in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties (including the Inland Bays area and the Nanticoke River Watershed) where PSN3 requirements have been implemented.

Some of the services we provide are as follows:

Design conventional septic systems such as gravity and pressure dosed beds and trenches, low pressure pipe (LPP) systems, elevated sand mounds (ESM) and Wisconsin at Grade systems. We also design grease traps, holding tanks and septic tanks.
Design innovative and alternate technology systems (IA) and advanced treatment to meet Inland Bays or tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay Nitrogen Performance Standard Nitrogen Level 3 (PSN3). Systems can be small residential sanitary wastewater systems or large custom designs for more difficult wastewater streams such as restaurants, ice cream shops or marinas. All designs include an open trench inspection and pressure test of the system before the Installer can cover the system.
Perform H inspections to determine the condition of an existing septic system at the time of a home sale or home replacement for the seller, purchaser, realtor, mortgage company or home builder. After the inspection we can prepare applications for component replacement and authorization to connect a new structure to the septic system. Dolby and Associates is certified to inspect American PercRite Drip systems, BioMicrobics RetroFAST and MircoFAST Units, Delta EcoPOD Units and Eco-Pure Peat Moss Biofilter Systems.
Provide certified service provider services for the equipment brands listed above to satisfy the DNREC requirement for Operation and Maintenance (O & M) service contracts on innovative alternative technology and advanced treatment systems.
Provide certified service provider services for the equipment brands listed above to satisfy the DNREC requirement for Operation and Maintenance (O & M) service contracts on innovative alternative technology and advanced treatment systems.
Provide project management services where we take your on-site wastewater project from the soil feasibility study, through design and permitting and into construction inspection and startup.

Construction System Inspections

DNREC regulations require that all septic systems have an open trench inspection before they are covered by the contractor and a cap inspection after they are covered if they are a capping fill system. Dolby and Associates provides the following services:

Engineered systems are inspected by an Engineer or a designated licensed inspector. We have the capability to respond quickly when a contractor requests an inspection thereby reducing the construction time lost due to the inspection requirement.
Gravity systems are inspected by one of our Licensed Class I inspectors. Our response time for an inspection request is one of the best in the industry.

Existing System Inspection Services

Inspection

Buying or selling a house? Class H septic system inspections are required in Delaware for property transfer. The system inspection will provide the seller and/or the buyer of a property with detailed information about the age, configuration and condition of the septic system. Our inspection reports include photographic documentation, a scale drawing of the system components on the property, historical documentation when available, as well as the required DNREC inspection form.

Pumping of the septic tank is required by law at the time of the inspection. The cost of the inspection can vary but inspections start at $500, including pumping.

Operation & Maintenance

Advanced treatment and pretreatment systems are required by DNREC to be covered by an Operation & Maintenance plan for the life of the system. If your septic permit bears the Operation & Maintenance Required stamp it is your responsibility as a homeowner to obtain the O&M coverage. O&M coverage must be provided by a DNREC licensed individual who is also a Certified Service Provider for the manufacturer of the technology in the septic system. We can provide O&M on a wide range of products including Puraflo Peat systems, EcoPure peat, Bio-Microbics "Fast" products, the Infiltrator EcoPod line and American On-site microdrip subsurface irrigation systems.

O&M contracts include annual or bi-annual inspections. During these inspections, light, regular maintenance is performed including cleaning of filters and normal root removal. All system components are inspected for defects and proper operation. The homeowner will be informed of any issues that arise and when the septic tank should be pumped. Telephone troubleshooting is also included between inspections and homeowner education will be provided at the initiation of the contract. Contract prices vary depending upon the pretreatment technology, site location and number of inspections required per year. 2-year O&M contracts for residential properties start at $450.