Percolation

Finally!!!! The incessant rains quit for a few days and I was able to get some heavy equipment onto the property!   I had already paid the county for 7 additional percolation (perc) tests before the Health Department changed the sanitation rules last summer.  Having a perc on the property increases the value significantly because it guarantees that a house can be built with a septic system.  This property has a bad reputation for percs, which I've since learned is completely unfounded.  The previous owner had tried "hundreds" of percs and was only ever successful 1 time.  You can only try a perc one time per location....if it fails, you can never go back.  However, he always drew the same Health Department sanitation expert who was tired of so much development in the county and would always look for any reason not to pass additional percs.  When I called my excavator to schedule the percs, I was sure to avoid this knucklehead.  I've never seen a perc test done, so I thought I'd stick around and watch for a while to see what it was all about.

And I quickly learned that it's a decidedly low-tech approach.   First, a backhoe digs a 6-foot deep hole at the perc site.  The Health Department folks then look into the hole to see what kind of dirt, rock, and clay it contains.  At this point, they can simply say "no" based upon their judgement.  (This is where the property always failed before...purely on judgement).   However, once these guys clear the deep hole, then three additional small holes are dug around the deep hole.   Water is poured into these shallow holes and a measurement is taken.  The water must "perc" through the ground at 3 inches in thirty minutes.  It's a bit nerve wracking when sitting around waiting for it to perc.

But, with the right guys in place, it only took 9 deep holes to get 7 additional percs on the land!  Whooohoooo!   Three are near the glamping site and will allow for lots of growth once the business is wildly successful.  The other 4 are for future investment opportunities.

Meanwhile...I'm still waiting on the final grading permit.