Hydraulic Load Testing

A hydraulic load test is required when a home has been vacant for more than 7 days. The test is performed to make sure a home's septic system and absorption area can handle an average amount of daily waste water. 

The test takes two days to complete. On Day 1, the technician measures and records the water level in the absorption area and then begins adding clean water. Water is added until the absorption area reaches its maximum capacity or the full specified daily volume is introduced. The technician then measures and records the water level in the absorption area again.

On Day 2, after the system has had 24 hours to absorb the water introduced on Day 1, the technician returns and measures the water level in the absorption area. In order to determine how much water was absorbed during the previous 24 hours, the technician again adds clean water to the system until the water level reaches the “high point” from Day 1 or until the full specified volume is introduced. The amount of water added on Day 2 is the amount of water absorbed during the 24 hour test.