LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 9, 2015) – Due to high seasonal groundwater levels, the St. Mary’s County Health Department will now begin wet season perc testing for lower terrace soil. Perc testing for all other soil types (upland areas) will begin as soon as those water tables reach normal wet season range. Perc testing was suspended in June 2014 due to declining groundwater levels.
Perc test applications received since last June which were not able to be conducted will be scheduled first. While the levels are high enough for testing, the testing may not run continuously through the winter and early spring. The water table may recede causing the testing to be suspended; testing would be resumed when tables rebound to wet season ranges.
Environmental Health Specialists at the Health Department conduct soil evaluations for the construction of residential and commercial septic systems. They also evaluate soil for replacement septic systems when the current septic systems fail. The application for a new construction perc test is located at the St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) and requires a fee. The application can be found by logging on to the St. Mary’s County Government website at www.stmarysmd.com. Click on Land Use and Growth Management under Citizen Services. All permit applications are available for download from the Permits page. The LUGM Department is located in the Patuxent Building on the Governmental Center Campus in Leonardtown.
For more information, please contact the St. Mary’s County Health Department Environmental Health Division at 301-475-4321, the St. Mary’s County Land Use and Growth Management Department’s Permit Services at 301-475-4200 x1500, or the Health Department’s website at www.smchd.org
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