Diagnosis and repair of disposal fields on Randolph's sloped, rocky lots and in its wetter low ground.
Disposal fields in Randolph tend to fail in one of two settings. On the ridges and slopes, shallow bedrock leaves little soil between the trenches and the rock, so a field can saturate and break out on the downhill side. In the low ground along the Black River, Mill Brook and the other tributaries, the problem is a high seasonal water table, which the township's own soils mapping flags in several soil types common there. Either way, the first sign is often a wet patch or a strip of bright green grass below the field.
Spring is when many Randolph fields show their age. Snowmelt and rain raise the water table, and a field that copes through summer can start to struggle in March or April. Before calling a field dead, a careful contractor rules out cheaper causes: a blocked tank outlet, a tipped distribution box on a slope, crushed lines or roots from the oaks, maples and other hardwoods on wooded lots. Fixing the distribution box or jetting the lines sometimes brings a field back. Sometimes the soil really is finished. Sending roof leaders and sump discharge away from the field also helps on hillside lots.
When a field needs replacing, the work runs through the township. A licensed engineer handles soil testing and the design, then submits plans to the Randolph Health Department, and construction waits for the permit. The township also limits how much of a steep lot can be disturbed, with tighter limits as slopes get steeper, and treats slopes over 15 percent as severely limiting for effluent disposal. On constrained lots that can push the design toward a raised bed or a pump chamber, and it is a big reason Randolph field prices vary so much. If you are unsure where your field ends, the health department file for your property may include the original design, and keeping trees, vehicles and plow trucks off that area is the best protection you have.
Snowmelt and spring rain raise groundwater, especially in the lower parts of town near the Black River and the Rockaway River tributaries. A field with little reserve capacity can handle summer but not the wet season. Redirecting surface water and fixing distribution problems sometimes helps; otherwise the field may need replacement.
It depends on soil depth, bedrock and the water table found during soil testing. On steep or shallow Randolph lots an engineered design is common, but only the engineer's tests and the health department review will decide it.
The township limits disturbance on steep slopes, with less allowed as slopes get steeper. Your engineer will account for this in the design, which is one reason field placement on hillside lots takes planning.
Public sewer covers mainly the north and east of the township (Route 10 area and most homes north of West Hanover Road and east of Millbrook Avenue) plus a southern area along Sussex Turnpike; the remaining unsewered areas are on individual septic systems.
randolphnj.orgThe Randolph Health Department requires permits for all septic work however minor, a licensed engineer for most repairs and new systems, and a three-year septic operator license whose renewal needs proof of pumping or an engineer's inspection.
randolphnj.orgThe township recommends pumping every 2.5 to 3 years, and each pump-out needs a $10 permit, usually pulled by the pumping company.
randolphnj.orgPump outs on the schedule Randolph recommends, with the receipt you need for your three year township septic license.
Inspections for Randolph home sales and license renewals, with a written report you can hand to the township or your attorney.
Repairs to tanks, baffles, lines, pumps and distribution boxes, permitted through the Randolph Health Department.
New and replacement septic systems in Randolph, from engineered design and township review to final health department inspection.