LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 7, 2022) – Due to rising seasonal groundwater levels, the St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) will begin wet season perc testing on or about February 14, 2022. Perc testing was suspended in May 2021 due to declining groundwater levels.
Perc test applications received since May 2021 that were not able to be conducted will be scheduled first. While the water levels are currently high enough for testing, perc testing may not run continuously through the winter and spring should the water table recede, causing testing to be suspended. Testing will resume if water tables rebound to necessary ranges.
SMCHD’s Environmental Health Division conducts soil evaluations for the construction of residential and commercial septic systems. The application for a new construction perc test is available through the St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) and requires a fee. The LUGM office is located in the Patuxent Building on the St. Mary’s County Governmental Center campus in Leonardtown. The perc test application is also available for download on the LUGM Permits webpage: stmarysmd.com/lugm/Permits.
Community members can learn more about perc testing at: smchd.org/perc-testing. Question about perc testing may be directed to SMCHD’s Environmental Health Division by phone to (301) 475-4321 or via email to smchd.env@maryland.gov.
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