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Perc Test:
assesses how quickly water drains into the soil
A perc test is conducted to evaluate the soil's capacity to filter wastewater from a septic system, measuring how quickly water drains from a test hole in the soil, which is then used to calculate the size of the septic system's drain field.
Crucial for determining the suitability of land for installing a septic system, specifically the size and design of the drainage field, measuring how long it takes for water to drop a certain depth in a dug hole, usually in minutes per inch (MPI).
Perc Tests measure:
the rate at which water drains into the soil: minute per inch (MPI).
A faster drainage rate (lower MPI) indicates more permeable soil, suitable for a standard septic system, while a slower drainage (higher MPI) suggests less permeable soil, potentially requiring a different type of septic system or modifications to the standard one.
Loamy soil, a balanced composition of sand, silt, and clay, is ideal for proper absorption and drainage; whereas, sandy soil may drain too quickly and clayey soils drain too slowly.
Perc Tests are important because:
the results of a perc test are used to determine the appropriate size of the drainage field, which is where wastewater is discharged after treatment in the septic tank.
Perc Tests are performed by:
digging several holes at the proposed drain field location, typically 4-12 inches in diameter and 24-36 inches deep;
water is added, poured into the holes and then allowed to drain;
this drainage is measured by the time it takes the water level to drop a specific distance (e.g. one inch); and
results are analyzed from the collected data to determine the percolation (perc) rate of the soil.
Possible outcomes of the perc test:
Good drainage: if the soil drains quickly, a standard septic system can be installed.
Poor drainage: if the soil drains too slowly, alternative or enhanced septic systems may be needed as the land may not be suitable for a standard system.
Failed Perc Test: If the soil drains too slowly or not at all, the land may not be suitable for a standard septic system.
Who can perform a perc test:
professionals registered as a Professional of Record (PR), or Qualified Service Provider (QSP) (OWTS certified) with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, certified as Professional Engineers (PE), Professional Geologists (PG), or Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS); professionals who specialize in septic systems or in land surveying.
Annual Professional of Record List for the County of Riverside April 2025
Perc Test
to Leach Field & Leach Lines:
the rate of soil moisture absorption.
Measuring how long it takes for soil to drain moisture added to the ground, determining the best place to install a drain, leach field, or other septic elements.
Perc test results (specifically, the water absorption rate) determine the size of the leach field, and the leach field size, in turn, dictates the number of bedrooms that the septic system can support.
Leach Field:
(aka drain field or soil treatment area):
an underground wastewater disposal system consisting of a series of perforated pipes laid in trenches filled with gravel or stone, used in septic systems.
A crucial component which removes contaminants and impurities from the liquid that flows out of a septic tank, acting as a purifying filter, being where the final treatment of wastewater occurs before it is dispersed into the surrounding soil, therefore, released back into the environment.
Leach Field Lines:
the network of pipes or chambers within the leach field that distribute the effluent (liquid waste or sewage discharge) into the surrounding soil for filtration and absorption.
The drain field system is surprising large:
usually nearly 100 feet long;
typically buried 3-4 feet below the surface during installation; and
each pipe is buried 5-6 feet apart.
The Next Step:
After the percolation (perc) test and the leach lines are installed, install the septic tank by connecting the septic tank to both the house and the leach field.
Here, the drain pipes from the house are connected to the septic tank and the outlet of the septic tank is connected to the leach field lines.
Who can install a leach field with leach lines and septic:
licensed septic contractors familiar with local regulations compliance, soil conditions, site evaluations, and the process of obtaining necessary permits for septic system installation.
pumping, repair, installation
Fourth generation and locally owned qualified to provide septic tank installation, certification, repair, and septic tank pumping (every 1-3 years).
installation, maintenance, system repairs
Local experts with over 55 years of experience in septic systems, handling everything from new leach fields to septic tank installation and septic tank pumping (every 1-3 years).
Annual Qualified Service Provider List for the County of Riverside May 2025
Septic v. Sewer:
Septic systems treat wastewater on-site with a leach field and septic tank (needing to be pumped, on average, every 1-3 years), while a sewer has a monthly fee and routes wastewater to a centralized treatment plant.
Here, both leave owner(s) with responsibility of repair due to collapse or breakage.
With sewer, the owner is responsible for pipes on the property, as the city is responsible for pipes under the road.
Idyllwild Water District: Sewer
IDYLLWILD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SEWER SERVICE
In Riverside County, including Idyllwild, a building permit and a Land Use Application are required to install a new septic system.
Detailed plans and a perc report, signed by a registered professional, must be submitted.
If properly maintained and protected, a leach field can last up to 50 years.
A permit is required for any installation or alteration of a septic system in Riverside County.
Sellers are required to disclose any known defects related to the property, including information about the septic system.
Environmental Protection:
adequate soil drainage is essential to prevent groundwater contamination by wastewater as the drainage field needs to be large enough to allow for proper filtration and absorption of said wastewater.
Regulation Compliance:
in Riverside County, Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) compliance is essential for percolation tests, particularly for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS).
Percolation reports and OWTS certifications must be performed by registered professionals.
Test holes must be in native, undisturbed soil and representative of the dispersal area.
In Riverside County, percolation test results for vacant land are typically submitted to the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health as part of the permitting process for onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic systems).
Likely find records by submitting a public records request to:
Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
In person @ 4080 Lemon St., 10th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501
from 7:30am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm
Alternatively, you may send your request via mail:
Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
P.O. Box 7909
Riverside, CA 92515-7909
Land Development Office Locations:
Riverside Office
Address: 4080 Lemon St, 10th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501
Tel: 951-955-8980
Fax: 951-955-8988
Email: DEHOWTS@rivco.org
In person: Monday-Friday - 7:30am - 12pm and 1pm - 4:30pm
Indio - (for Idyllwild)
Address: 47-950 Arabia St, Suite A Indio, CA 92201
Tel: 760-863-7570
Fax: 760-863-7013
Email: landusedesert@rivco.org
In person: Monday & Wednesday - 7:30am - 12pm and 1pm - 4:30pm
© Will.iam Halfhill - "Will on the Hill"
All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buyers and sellers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before making decisions.