07/07/2026
Good afternoon, did you wonder what kind of spider or snake or critter was using that hole? Well its not a critter den... its the visual remains of a perc test.
What is a perc test and why do you get one? A perc test (percolation test) measures how quickly soil absorbs and drains water. Thus affecting septic system approval. It is an optional but advisable step before buying undeveloped land, especially when the type of soil is unknown or the site is near water. My client, due to the proximity to water, decided they wanted to know ahead of time, what type of septic system could be utilized here, if any. As the results will affect the cost of the overall project.
How the test works is during a perc test, a licensed soil scientist or county health official digs one or more test holes (typically 2 to 5 feet deep), fills them with water to saturate the soil, and measures how fast the water level drops over time. They record that along with the soil types and provide a report with allowable systems.
When buying vacant land to build on, if you do not do this step prior to purchase it will be done as part of the septic permit process.
Note: this is synopsis of the process, check with your local health department for specific details as there could be differences across the county, state and country.
Any guesses to what you are seeing?
I’ll tell you tomorrow 😉