1. (a) As required by RSA 485-A:29, I, the constructed ISDS shall not be covered or placed in operation without final inspection and approval by the department or by an authorized agent of the department.

2. (b) Prior to requesting an inspection, the following shall be installed in accordance with the approved plan:

   1. (1) The complete ISDS as shown on the approved plan, unless the requirements of Env-Wq 1004.07 are met;
   2. (2) The building foundation or building slab, or gravel pad for any buildings that will not have a foundation or building slab, or buildings to which the ISDS connects; and
   3. (3) If the lot is not served by a public water system, the well if identified as a critical well location, as defined in We 101.11, on the approved plan or the construction approval, or if the well is not identified as a critical well location, a stake marking the location of the well as shown on the approved plans.
3. (c) One partial inspection per site for the complete installation of an ISDS component such as a septic tank or an EDA, without complete installation of the entire ISDS, may be requested if site constraints limit access to the entire site.
4. (d) If a partial inspection results in the department allowing the inspected portion to be backfilled, the department shall not issue an approval to operate until the entire system is installed and inspected.

5. (e) Inspection by the department shall not be construed as a substitute for good construction oversight practices, which shall be used throughout the construction process by:

   1. (1) The permitted installer; or
   2. (2) The homeowner, where the homeowner is installing the ISDS for their own domicile as allowed in accordance with RSA 485-A:36, II.

6. (f) For a property owner that is installing a new ISDS for a property they are developing to be their domicile pursuant to RSA 485-A:36, II(b), the homeowner shall complete and submit to the department at the time they request inspection the “Homeowner Installation of Individual Sewage Disposal System” form, NHDES-W-05-006, February 2026, located at https://onlineforms.nh.gov/?formtag=NHDES-W-05-006. The required signatures and certifications to comply with this subsection are:

   1. (1) The signature from a permitted designer or permitted installer pursuant to RSA 485-A:36, II(b)(3) certifying that the ISDS constructed in accordance with the approved plans and construction approval, including verifying the:

      1. a. Preparation of the basal area for the EDA;
      2. b. Installation of the bed bottom at the specified location and elevation;
      3. c. Installation of the EDA piping components and the distribution box; and
      4. d. Installation of the septic tank and associated piping components; and

   2. (2) The affidavit with the notarized signature of the property owner pursuant to RSA 485-A:36, II(b)(2) and (4) certifying that:

      1. a. Either the property owner or a permitted septic system installer performed all work to construct the ISDS; and
      2. b. The property will be the homeowner’s domicile for at least 2 years, starting from the date on which the ISDS receives approval to operate from the department.
7. (g) For a homeowner installing a replacement ISDS pursuant to RSA 485-A:36, II(a), the homeowner shall provide to the department at the time they request inspection the affidavit required pursuant to Env-Wq 1004.17(e)(2).

Source. (See Revision Notes #1 and #2 at chapter heading for Env-Wq 1000) #11184, eff 10-1-16; ss by #14486, eff 2-1-26, EXPIRES: 2-1-36 (formerly Env-Wq 1004.07)