Credentials
Doug Needy has many hours of education and continuing education in the field of wastewater treatment and drinking water management and operations. This has resulted in numerous licensing and certification from both the state of Missouri and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Doug holds two certifications as a basic and advanced septic system installer. He has installed hundreds of systems in central Missouri. He has over 25 years experience with soil and excavation. Doug is also a Missouri State Licensed Onsite Wastewater Treatment Inspector. His Experience in the field gives him a solid platform to find and determine problems with a system if there are any.
Most Commonly Asked Questions
How long will the inspection take?
We tell every client about 4 hours. Our inspections are thorough and in compliance with the state of Missouri. We answer several sheets of questions about your system. This process requires us to perform several tasks, such as measuring and examining the system, water test ( when applicable), and hydraulic test (when applicable)
Do I have to pump the tank before you come?
NO, as a matter of fact, we would rather that you not pump the tank before we come. We like to see the tank in operation and check the levels of the water and sludge (solid waste). These help us to determine if your tank is in proper working order. If the tank is pumped prior to an inspection it must be filled before the hydraulic test can be performed.
Do you need access to the house?
Yes, we do need access to the inside of your home. We check the drain lines your house to see if they connect to your septic system. This required us to turn on and off faucets and fixtures to check connections. We also do a hydraulic test to determine if your system can handle a full one does cycle. The hydraulic test requires that we run water from the faucets inside your home for a period of time. We may also need to take a water sample which we prefer to draw from the faucet inside the house.
What is a hydraulic test?
A hydraulic test is the part of the inspection where we run several gallons of water prescribed by Missouri State Regulation through the septic system by turning on a number of faucets inside your home. The amount of water that we run can vary from 50 gallons to 700 gallons depending on system type, home size, and occupancy. If your home has been vacant more than 60 days we can not run a hydraulic test.
If I have a lagoon do I need a hydraulic test?
No, a hydraulic test is done to check septic tanks and lateral lines. A smaller amount of water will be run to check function and connections.
DO you test the water?
Yes, if you have a well we do a simple bacteria test for the state. We carefully take a clean sample of your water in a state supplied bottle to be tested at a state-approved lab. They will determine if you have coliform or e Coli in your water. If your water comes back positive for either of these contaminants we will notify you immediately.