Perc Testing

Before a septic system can be designed anywhere in Connecticut, the soil has to prove it can absorb wastewater — that is what a percolation test measures. Roberts Excavation digs and coordinates perc and deep observation hole testing for building lots, additions, and septic replacements within about 30 miles of Plainfield. We run our own machine for the test pits, work alongside the soil evaluator and your local health district, and have handled the process routinely since 2010.

A typical evaluation pairs deep test holes — dug to expose the soil profile, any ledge, and seasonal water table staining — with perc holes where the water drop is timed to establish the absorption rate. The results drive everything: system type, leach field size, and where on the lot the system can legally sit. In parts of Eastern Connecticut, health districts limit certain testing to seasons when groundwater is observable, so timing the test right matters.

For raw land, testing before you buy is basic due diligence. A lot that fails to perc, or that will only support an engineered mound system, changes what the property is worth and what you can build on it — and that is worth knowing before a closing, not after. We give free estimates on testing work and can usually get test pits scheduled around the health district's calendar without a long wait.