350 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is the minimum required distance between a septic tank and a
water well in SC? ANSWER-50 feet
2. Q: Which agency regulates onsite wastewater systems in South
Carolina? ANSWER-South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control (DHEC)
3. Q: What is the minimum lot size required for a conventional septic
system in SC? ANSWER-20,000 square feet (0.46 acres)
4. Q: How long is a septic tank contractor license valid in SC? ANSWER-2
years
5. Q: What is the minimum setback from a septic tank to a property line?
ANSWER-5 feet
6. Q: Who can perform soil evaluations for septic systems in SC?
ANSWER-Licensed soil classifiers or professional engineers
7. Q: What is the required setback from a drainfield to a water well?
ANSWER-100 feet
8. Q: What permit is required before installing a septic system? ANSWER-
Construction permit from DHEC
9. Q: What is the minimum distance between a septic tank and a dwelling?
ANSWER-10 feet
10. Q: How often must septic tanks be pumped in SC? ANSWER-Every 3-5
years, depending on usage and tank size
11. Q: What is the minimum distance from a drainfield to a surface water
body? ANSWER-50 feet
,12. Q: What type of insurance is required for septic contractors in SC?
ANSWER-General liability insurance of at least $100,000
13. Q: What is the maximum depth for a conventional drainfield?
ANSWER-24 inches below original grade
14. Q: Who must sign off on a completed septic system installation?
ANSWER-A DHEC inspector
15. Q: What is the minimum slope required for septic tank inlet and outlet
pipes? ANSWER-1% (1/8 inch per foot)
16. Q: What is the required setback from a septic system to a public water
supply? ANSWER-200 feet
17. Q: What documentation must be provided with a septic system permit
application? ANSWER-Soil evaluation, site plan, and system design
18. Q: What is the maximum allowable groundwater separation for a
conventional system? ANSWER-24 inches
19. Q: How long does a homeowner have to connect to a septic system after
installation? ANSWER-6 months
20. Q: What is the minimum distance between septic system components
and a swimming pool? ANSWER-25 feet
21. Q: What agency handles septic contractor licensing in SC? ANSWER-
SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
22. Q: What is the required continuing education for license renewal?
ANSWER-8 hours every 2 years
23. Q: What is the penalty for operating without a valid contractor license?
ANSWER-Fines up to $1,000 and/or 30 days imprisonment
24. Q: What is the minimum distance from a septic tank to a storm water
drain? ANSWER-25 feet
25. Q: Who can design alternative septic systems in SC? ANSWER-
Licensed professional engineers
26. Q: What is the required bond amount for septic contractors?
ANSWER-$10,000
27. Q: What is the minimum distance from a drainfield to a basement or
crawlspace? ANSWER-20 feet
, 28. Q: How many years of experience are required to obtain a contractor
license? ANSWER-2 years of verifiable experience
29. Q: What is the setback requirement from septic components to a
driveway? ANSWER-5 feet
30. Q: What type of system is required for lots smaller than 20,000 sq ft?
ANSWER-Alternative or advanced treatment system
31. Q: What is the maximum hydraulic loading rate for conventional
systems? ANSWER-0.8 gallons per day per square foot
32. Q: Who must perform the final inspection of a septic system?
ANSWER-DHEC environmental health specialist
33. Q: What is the minimum distance from septic components to food
service establishments? ANSWER-100 feet
34. Q: What notification is required before beginning septic system
installation? ANSWER-48-hour advance notice to DHEC
35. Q: What is the required setback from septic systems to churches or
schools? ANSWER-100 feet
36. Q: What soil percolation rate is acceptable for conventional systems?
ANSWER-1-30 minutes per inch
37. Q: What is the maximum allowable slope for drainfield installation?
ANSWER-30%
38. Q: What documentation must contractors maintain for each
installation? ANSWER-Installation records, permits, and inspection reports
39. Q: What is the required depth of soil cover over distribution boxes?
ANSWER-Minimum 6 inches
40. Q: What type of bedding material is required under septic tanks?
ANSWER-6 inches of sand or pea gravel
41. Q: What is the minimum distance from septic systems to mobile home
parks? ANSWER-Per local zoning requirements, typically 100 feet
42. Q: What approval is needed for repair systems? ANSWER-DHEC
repair permit
43. Q: What is the required notification period for system repairs?
ANSWER-24 hours to DHEC
1. Q: What is the minimum required distance between a septic tank and a
water well in SC? ANSWER-50 feet
2. Q: Which agency regulates onsite wastewater systems in South
Carolina? ANSWER-South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control (DHEC)
3. Q: What is the minimum lot size required for a conventional septic
system in SC? ANSWER-20,000 square feet (0.46 acres)
4. Q: How long is a septic tank contractor license valid in SC? ANSWER-2
years
5. Q: What is the minimum setback from a septic tank to a property line?
ANSWER-5 feet
6. Q: Who can perform soil evaluations for septic systems in SC?
ANSWER-Licensed soil classifiers or professional engineers
7. Q: What is the required setback from a drainfield to a water well?
ANSWER-100 feet
8. Q: What permit is required before installing a septic system? ANSWER-
Construction permit from DHEC
9. Q: What is the minimum distance between a septic tank and a dwelling?
ANSWER-10 feet
10. Q: How often must septic tanks be pumped in SC? ANSWER-Every 3-5
years, depending on usage and tank size
11. Q: What is the minimum distance from a drainfield to a surface water
body? ANSWER-50 feet
,12. Q: What type of insurance is required for septic contractors in SC?
ANSWER-General liability insurance of at least $100,000
13. Q: What is the maximum depth for a conventional drainfield?
ANSWER-24 inches below original grade
14. Q: Who must sign off on a completed septic system installation?
ANSWER-A DHEC inspector
15. Q: What is the minimum slope required for septic tank inlet and outlet
pipes? ANSWER-1% (1/8 inch per foot)
16. Q: What is the required setback from a septic system to a public water
supply? ANSWER-200 feet
17. Q: What documentation must be provided with a septic system permit
application? ANSWER-Soil evaluation, site plan, and system design
18. Q: What is the maximum allowable groundwater separation for a
conventional system? ANSWER-24 inches
19. Q: How long does a homeowner have to connect to a septic system after
installation? ANSWER-6 months
20. Q: What is the minimum distance between septic system components
and a swimming pool? ANSWER-25 feet
21. Q: What agency handles septic contractor licensing in SC? ANSWER-
SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
22. Q: What is the required continuing education for license renewal?
ANSWER-8 hours every 2 years
23. Q: What is the penalty for operating without a valid contractor license?
ANSWER-Fines up to $1,000 and/or 30 days imprisonment
24. Q: What is the minimum distance from a septic tank to a storm water
drain? ANSWER-25 feet
25. Q: Who can design alternative septic systems in SC? ANSWER-
Licensed professional engineers
26. Q: What is the required bond amount for septic contractors?
ANSWER-$10,000
27. Q: What is the minimum distance from a drainfield to a basement or
crawlspace? ANSWER-20 feet
, 28. Q: How many years of experience are required to obtain a contractor
license? ANSWER-2 years of verifiable experience
29. Q: What is the setback requirement from septic components to a
driveway? ANSWER-5 feet
30. Q: What type of system is required for lots smaller than 20,000 sq ft?
ANSWER-Alternative or advanced treatment system
31. Q: What is the maximum hydraulic loading rate for conventional
systems? ANSWER-0.8 gallons per day per square foot
32. Q: Who must perform the final inspection of a septic system?
ANSWER-DHEC environmental health specialist
33. Q: What is the minimum distance from septic components to food
service establishments? ANSWER-100 feet
34. Q: What notification is required before beginning septic system
installation? ANSWER-48-hour advance notice to DHEC
35. Q: What is the required setback from septic systems to churches or
schools? ANSWER-100 feet
36. Q: What soil percolation rate is acceptable for conventional systems?
ANSWER-1-30 minutes per inch
37. Q: What is the maximum allowable slope for drainfield installation?
ANSWER-30%
38. Q: What documentation must contractors maintain for each
installation? ANSWER-Installation records, permits, and inspection reports
39. Q: What is the required depth of soil cover over distribution boxes?
ANSWER-Minimum 6 inches
40. Q: What type of bedding material is required under septic tanks?
ANSWER-6 inches of sand or pea gravel
41. Q: What is the minimum distance from septic systems to mobile home
parks? ANSWER-Per local zoning requirements, typically 100 feet
42. Q: What approval is needed for repair systems? ANSWER-DHEC
repair permit
43. Q: What is the required notification period for system repairs?
ANSWER-24 hours to DHEC
