Claire McElderry, the town's wastewater management inspector, is sending notices this month to about a dozen Block Island property owners that she will soon be scheduling inspections of their individual septic treatment systems. It is the first step toward inspection of all island septic systems, as mandated by the town's Wasterwater Management Ordinance.

McElderry says she intends to start with properties in the most environmentally critical areas — the Great Salt Pond watershed and wellhead protection areas. She is uncertain about the pace of inspections; septic tank locations are not always pinpointed, and the entrance ports are usually buried, she pointed out. The depth to which ground is frozen is also a factor at this time of year.

Below is an explanation McElderry and the town Conservation Commission has prepared, detailing the program and the process.

The first maintenance inspection is required as part of the Wastewater Management Ordinance adopted by the Town of New Shoreham in 1996. The inspection is done by the town's wastewater management inspector to determine the condition of individual sewage disposal systems (ISDS) island-wide.

By establishing a baseline of information for each system, a routine inspection schedule can be determined. Future routine inspections will occur within the time frame set by the first maintenance inspection. The routine inspection can be performed by town-approved inspectors chosen and paid for by the property owner.

The first maintenance inspection also will determine the number of cesspools on the island and locate systems needing minor or major repairs. All cesspools are required by the Wastewater Management Ordinance to be replaced by Dec. 31, 2005. Access risers and effluent filters are also required on all conventional systems by the same date. Access risers facilitate the routine inspection process and any required pumping or maintenance.

During the first maintenance inspection, the inspector will gather as much information about an ISDS as possible. This includes interviewing the property owner and estimating water use, obtaining existing drawings of the system, locating the system components in the yard and observing overall site conditions.

The pump-out access to the septic tank or cesspool will be uncovered, as well as the outlet end of septic tanks. The level of wastewater in the tank will be observed. Water levels above the outlet opening may indicate problems in the piping, distribution box or leachfield.

Water levels below the outlet may indicate a leaking tank. Further investigation into the distribution box may be recommended if there are hydraulic problem indicators in the tank. This is not part of the first maintenance inspection.

The amount of solids in the tank will be measured and, based on the length of time since the last pump-out, a future inspection schedule will be set. A pumpout may be required as part of the first maintenance inspection if the inspector suspects structural problems in the tank or possible tank leaks, or if the tank needs immediate pumping (i.e., the solids account for more than 50 percent of the volume of the tank).

If a tank lacks access risers or does not have an effluent filter and can accommodate one, the first maintenance inspection is a good time to install these components. The tank top is exposed and the property owner can save money by doing these retrofits without digging down to the tank again. Private contractors or the property owner can do these retrofits in coordination with the first maintenance inspection.

The first maintenance inspection is an opportunity for property owners to learn more about their septic system and its function. The owner will be given a report at the conclusion of the inspection, detailing the findings of the inspector and any recommendations.

For more information call McElderry, at 466-8924.