LEONARDTOWN, MD (January 15, 2016) – Due to high seasonal groundwater levels, the St. Mary’s County Health Department will begin wet season perc testing January 25, 2016. Perc testing was suspended in May 2015 due to declining groundwater levels.
Perc test applications received since last May which were not able to be conducted will be scheduled first. While the levels are high enough for testing, the testing may not run continuously through the winter and early spring. The water table may recede causing the testing to be suspended; testing would be resumed when tables rebound to wet season ranges.
Environmental Health Specialists at the Health Department conduct soil evaluations for the construction of residential and commercial septic systems. The application for a new construction perc test is located at the St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) and requires a fee. The LUGM Department is located in the Patuxent Building on the Governmental Center Campus in Leonardtown. The application may also be found at the St. Mary’s County Government website under the Department of Land Use and Growth Management – Forms and Documents. All permit applications are available for download from the Permits page.
For more information, please contact the St. Mary’s County Health Department Environmental Health Division at 301-475-4321, visit their website at www.smchd.org, or call the St. Mary’s County Land Use and Growth Management Department’s Permit Services at 301-475-4200 x1500.
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