What Happens During an Engineer Site Visit
During the first site visit, a Hawaiʻi licensed civil engineer gathers property information and looks at the conditions that can affect an individual wastewater system (IWS) design. Have your tax map key (TMK), available plans and wastewater records, known system information, access instructions, and future building plans ready. The visit may identify more survey or testing work that is needed before design begins.
What the first visit is for
The engineer needs reliable property and field information to evaluate possible IWS options and prepare a design for state review. The work may include or require a site evaluation, survey, percolation test, and confirmation of the project's wastewater design basis.
The visit does not authorize construction or establish the final system type. The design follows the site findings, applicable rules, and agency review.
What the engineer may look at
- Where the building drain leaves the home and where the existing cesspool or other system may be located.
- Available area for treatment and disposal components, including setbacks from buildings, property lines, wells, water features, and other constraints.
- Slope, access, rock, drainage, vegetation, retaining walls, and known utilities.
- The number and use of dwellings and bedrooms that affect the wastewater design basis.
- Whether more survey, soil, percolation, electrical, plumbing, or specialty information is needed.
Not every visit includes every test. The engineer may need follow up work or information from other licensed professionals.
What to prepare before the appointment
- Your TMK and property address.
- Any deed, survey, plot plan, building plans, permits, cesspool card, wastewater approval, inspection report, or prior engineering drawing you can locate.
- Known information about the system's location, pumping history, backups, odors, wet areas, repairs, or prior notices.
- Access instructions, locked gate information, pets, tenants, steep areas, vegetation, and known underground utilities.
- Planned renovations or new structures, timing concerns, and questions about construction access.
Missing records do not necessarily stop the visit. Tell the engineer what you do and do not know rather than guessing.
What happens after the visit
The engineer reviews the collected information and identifies the work needed to complete the proposed IWS design. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) submittal includes plans and required supporting forms. DOH review comes before construction.
The next step may be a survey, more field work, clarification of property use, or retrieval of agency records. A useful first visit packet can reduce avoidable questions, but it cannot determine agency review time.
Questions worth asking
- What information is still missing after today?
- What site constraints appear most important?
- What system options remain possible, and what must be confirmed before choosing?
- Will a survey, percolation test, electrician, plumber, or other specialist be needed?
- What deliverables and agency approvals are included in the engineer’s scope?
- What should remain accessible during later design and construction work?
Need to arrange a property review?
Send the address or TMK, access details, and a short description of the wastewater setup. We will use that information to connect you with an appropriate licensed professional.
Official sources
- Hawaiʻi Department of Health Individual Wastewater Systems
- Hawaiʻi Department of Health Wastewater Rules
- Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Search
The work performed during a site visit depends on the property and the licensed professional's scope.