Terms and Conditions
Onsite Wastewater Inspections LLC
Last Updated: May 6, 2026
These Terms and Conditions form a legally binding agreement between you, the client, customer, property owner, buyer, seller, broker, attorney, lender, property manager, authorized agent, or person scheduling services (“Client,” “you,” or “your”) and Onsite Wastewater Inspections LLC (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
These Terms apply to all services provided by the Company, including but not limited to Massachusetts Title 5 inspections, septic system inspections, septic system evaluations, wastewater system assessments, septic maintenance services, I/A system Operation and Maintenance services, reinspections, post-repair inspections, water-supply-related coordination, consulting, and related services.
By scheduling services through Acuity Scheduling, submitting an appointment request, signing an estimate, paying an invoice, authorizing work, allowing site access, or permitting the Company to proceed, the Client acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
1. Scope of Services
The Company provides wastewater and septic-related services, including:
• Massachusetts Title 5 inspections performed in accordance with applicable Massachusetts regulations, including 310 CMR 15.000;
• septic system evaluations;
• septic system maintenance and servicing;
• Innovative/Alternative system Operation and Maintenance services;
• post-repair reinspection’s;
• general wastewater system consulting;
• related site observations, reporting, coordination, and documentation.
All services are limited to the agreed scope of work. The Company is not responsible for work, inspections, testing, engineering, design, excavation, repairs, or third-party services that are not expressly included in writing.
A Title 5 inspection is a limited regulatory inspection of observable and reasonably accessible system conditions at the time of inspection. It is not a warranty, guarantee, engineering design review, land survey, environmental site assessment, subsurface investigation, or guarantee of future system performance.
Passing a Title 5 inspection does not mean that the system is new, defect-free, maintenance-free, properly designed for future use, or guaranteed to function for any particular period of time.
2. Scheduling, Payment, and Authorization
All appointments must be scheduled through Acuity Scheduling or another Company-approved method.
The Client authorizes the Company to charge all applicable fees, deposits, balances, additional service charges, cancellation charges, rescheduling charges, reinspection charges, and other amounts due in connection with the requested services.
Full payment or a deposit may be required before services are performed.
The Company may require payment before releasing non-regulatory deliverables, client copies, supplemental summaries, consulting memoranda, optional reports, or other materials not required by law to be submitted to a regulatory authority.
For Title 5 inspections or other services where submission to a Board of Health, MassDEP, or other approving authority is required by law, nothing in these Terms is intended to delay, limit, or prevent any legally required submission.
Unpaid balances may result in collection activity, service refusal, report-copy withholding where legally permitted, cancellation of future services, or additional administrative fees.
3. Cancellation Policy
A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel an appointment.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment may be charged up to 100% of the scheduled service fee.
No-shows, same-day cancellations, denied access, locked properties, unprepared sites, unavailable system components, or appointments where the Company cannot reasonably perform the service due to Client-controlled conditions may be charged the full service fee.
The Company reserves the right to cancel, delay, or reschedule services due to unsafe conditions, severe weather, frozen ground, flooding, inaccessible components, site hazards, incomplete information, nonpayment, or conditions outside the Company’s control.
4. Rescheduling Policy
Rescheduling requests made at least 48 hours before the scheduled appointment may be accommodated without penalty, subject to availability.
Rescheduling requests made less than 48 hours before the scheduled appointment may result in additional fees.
Repeated rescheduling, incomplete access, unprepared site conditions, or failure to provide required information may result in service refusal, prepayment requirements, or cancellation.
5. Client Authority to Order Services
The person scheduling or authorizing services represents that they are the property owner, buyer, seller, broker, attorney, property manager, lender, authorized agent, or other person with legal authority to order the services and authorize access to the property.
The Client is responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions, access rights, tenant approvals, owner authorizations, gate codes, keys, and site access before the appointment.
The Client agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Company from claims, damages, disputes, costs, or delays arising from lack of authority, unauthorized access, tenant disputes, ownership disputes, denial of access, or failure to obtain necessary permissions.
6. Site Access and Client Responsibilities
The Client shall provide safe, legal, and unobstructed access to all areas reasonably necessary to perform the requested services.
This may include access to:
• septic tanks;
• tank covers and lids;
• distribution boxes;
• pump chambers;
• treatment units;
• I/A system components;
• leaching areas;
• reserve areas;
• cleanouts;
• basement plumbing;
• buildings served by the system;
• exterior grounds;
• wells;
• water supply features;
• other relevant wastewater system components.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Client is responsible for ensuring that required covers, lids, risers, distribution boxes, pump chambers, access ports, and related system components are exposed, accessible, and safe to open before the inspection.
The Client shall ensure that:
• pets are secured;
• gates are unlocked;
• tenants or occupants are notified;
• utilities are operational if required;
• hazards are disclosed;
• private roads or access points are available;
• system components are not blocked by vehicles, equipment, snow, ice, debris, structures, patios, decks, landscaping, or stored materials.
Failure to provide proper access may result in additional fees, incomplete service, delayed reporting, rescheduling, cancellation, or findings that certain components were not inspected.
7. Buried, Obstructed, or Inaccessible Components
If system components are buried, obstructed, paved over, frozen, flooded, unsafe, inaccessible, concealed, locked, undocumented, or difficult to locate, the Company may need to perform additional probing, digging, locating, excavation coordination, return visits, or related work.
Additional fees shall apply for excessive digging, probing, locating, excavation-related work, return visits, or delays caused by inaccessible components.
The Client acknowledges that locating and accessing wastewater system components may cause ordinary and incidental disturbance to soil, lawn, landscaping, mulch beds, plantings, hardscaping, patios, walkways, driveways, fences, irrigation systems, low-voltage wiring, invisible dog fences, drainage systems, utilities, or other site improvements.
The Client is responsible for identifying and disclosing the location of private utilities, irrigation lines, low-voltage wiring, buried electrical lines, propane lines, drainage structures, invisible pet fencing, site hazards, property boundaries, easements, and restricted areas before work begins.
The Company is not responsible for ordinary or incidental disturbance resulting from reasonable efforts to locate, uncover, access, inspect, or evaluate buried or concealed components, except to the extent caused by the Company’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
8. Multiple Septic Systems or Wastewater Systems
Unless expressly stated in writing, the quoted fee applies only to the septic system or wastewater disposal system disclosed by the Client at the time of booking.
Properties containing more than one septic system, shared system, cesspool, tight tank, grease trap, pump chamber, I/A system, accessory dwelling system, detached-building system, commercial-use system, abandoned system, or other wastewater disposal system may require separate inspection, documentation, reporting, access work, coordination, and fees.
Each additional system may require:
• separate inspection;
• separate field work;
• separate report or form;
• additional research;
• additional excavation or access work;
• additional pumping coordination;
• additional Board of Health or DEP coordination;
• additional fees.
The Client is responsible for disclosing all known or suspected wastewater systems, buildings served, dwelling units, accessory structures, commercial uses, prior repairs, abandoned systems, shared systems, and system components before scheduling.
Failure to disclose additional systems or relevant property conditions may result in additional charges, incomplete inspection, delayed reporting, rescheduling, cancellation, or a notation in the report that certain systems or components were not disclosed, located, accessible, or inspected.
9. Wells, Water Supply, and Setback-Related Conditions
Title 5 inspections may require consideration of nearby water supply wells, irrigation wells, surface waters, wetlands, property boundaries, water supply lines, and other protected features or setback-sensitive conditions. Massachusetts Title 5 includes minimum setback-distance requirements for septic system components, wells, and other protected features.
The Client is responsible for disclosing all known or suspected wells and water supply features, including:
• private drinking water wells;
• irrigation wells;
• abandoned wells;
• shared wells;
• wells serving neighboring or abutting properties;
• public water supply information, if known;
• water treatment systems;
• known water-quality issues;
• known local Board of Health water testing requirements.
The Company may, where applicable or reasonably necessary, perform or coordinate additional work relating to wells or water supply conditions, including:
• review of available municipal records;
• review of owner-provided records;
• field observation of visible well locations;
• coordination with laboratories, water testing vendors, or public authorities;
• recommendation of water quality testing;
• coordination of water sampling where separately agreed;
• notation of unavailable, inaccessible, undisclosed, or unverified well information.
Any well research, water testing, laboratory analysis, sampling, courier service, third-party coordination, or related work is outside the base inspection fee unless expressly included in writing. Such work shall be billed separately.
The Company is not responsible for delays, incomplete information, access denial, inaccurate records, laboratory turnaround times, neighboring property access issues, municipal response delays, or third-party failure relating to well identification, water testing, or water supply information.
The Company does not warrant or guarantee the potability, quality, safety, capacity, location, construction, legality, or suitability of any well or water supply unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement.
10. Pumping, Opening, Excavation, and Third-Party Contractors
Where pumping, cover removal, excavation, repair work, water testing, laboratory analysis, engineering, surveying, or other third-party services are required or requested, such services may be performed by separate contractors or vendors.
Unless expressly stated in writing, third-party services are not included in the Company’s inspection fee.
The Company is not responsible for the acts, omissions, workmanship, scheduling, pricing, damage, delays, conclusions, reports, or recommendations of pumpers, excavators, installers, engineers, laboratories, municipal officials, water testing vendors, or other third parties.
The Client remains responsible for payment of third-party charges unless otherwise agreed in writing.
11. Client Information and Reliance on Records
The Client is responsible for providing complete and accurate information, including:
• property address;
• parcel information;
• owner or authorized agent information;
• number and type of septic or wastewater systems;
• buildings, units, bedrooms, commercial uses, accessory uses, or flow-generating fixtures served;
• known tank, distribution box, leaching field, pump chamber, or I/A component locations;
• prior Title 5 reports;
• as-built plans;
• septic permits;
• certificates of compliance;
• pumping records;
• repair records;
• known failures, backups, odors, wet areas, high groundwater, or prior enforcement;
• wells and water supply information;
• property access instructions;
• hazards, pets, tenants, locked areas, or access restrictions.
The Company may rely on information supplied by the Client, owner, broker, seller, buyer, tenant, municipality, Board of Health, MassDEP, laboratory, prior inspector, engineer, septic pumper, installer, or other third party.
The Company is not responsible for errors, omissions, inaccuracies, incompleteness, or delays in third-party information unless caused by the Company’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Inaccurate, incomplete, late, or withheld information may result in additional fees, delayed reporting, incomplete inspection, revised reporting, rescheduling, cancellation, or findings that require further evaluation by the approving authority.
12. Inspection Disclaimer and Limitations
Inspections are conducted in accordance with applicable Massachusetts Title 5 requirements, applicable forms, applicable guidance, and the agreed scope of service.
An inspection represents the condition of the system only at the time of inspection and under the conditions observed at that time.
The Company makes no warranty or guarantee, express or implied, regarding:
• future system performance;
• future wastewater flow;
• future groundwater conditions;
• future maintenance conditions;
• remaining useful life;
• hidden defects;
• concealed defects;
• inaccessible components;
• undocumented components;
• subsurface conditions;
• seasonal groundwater variation;
• future property use;
• suitability for expansion, increased bedrooms, commercial use, change of use, or increased flow.
Subsurface components, concealed defects, seasonal groundwater variations, future use conditions, undocumented alterations, and conditions occurring after the inspection are outside the scope of the inspection.
13. Reports and Regulatory Submissions
Reports will be prepared in accordance with applicable Massachusetts Title 5 requirements, DEP-approved forms, and applicable approving authority requirements.
For inspections required under Title 5, the Company will submit required inspection forms to the applicable approving authority as required by law. Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit, waive, delay, or alter any legally required submission to a Board of Health, MassDEP, or other approving authority.
The Company may withhold non-regulatory deliverables, client copies, supplemental summaries, consulting memoranda, optional reports, or other materials not required to be submitted by law until payment is received in full.
The Client authorizes the Company to communicate with and submit inspection-related information to Boards of Health, MassDEP, lenders, brokers, attorneys, laboratories, pumpers, engineers, installers, buyers, sellers, owners, or other parties reasonably involved in the inspection, transaction, repair, or regulatory process.
The Company is not responsible for delays caused by municipal review, DEP review, laboratory turnaround, third-party scheduling, incomplete records, missing approvals, payment issues, or other external factors.
14. Reinspection, Follow-Up Visits, and Post-Repair Review
If a system fails, conditionally passes, requires repair, requires further evaluation, has inaccessible components, or is subject to Board of Health, MassDEP, lender, buyer, seller, engineer, or contractual requirements, additional inspection, reinspection, follow-up review, or site visits may be necessary.
Reinspection and follow-up services are separate services and are subject to additional fees.
The Client is responsible for ensuring before any reinspection or follow-up visit that:
• all repairs are complete;
• all required permits and approvals have been obtained;
• all components are accessible;
• all excavation or exposure work is complete;
• the site is safe;
• required contractors, pumpers, installers, operators, engineers, or municipal representatives are available if needed;
• relevant repair records, invoices, permits, photographs, or certificates are provided.
A reinspection or follow-up visit is limited to the conditions and components reviewed at that visit. It does not guarantee future system performance and does not constitute final municipal, DEP, or Board of Health approval unless accepted by the applicable approving authority.
The Company is not responsible for delays caused by contractors, installers, engineers, laboratories, weather, municipal review, Board of Health scheduling, DEP review, missing documentation, incomplete repairs, inaccessible components, or other third-party conditions.
15. I/A System Operation and Maintenance
I/A system Operation and Maintenance services are performed in accordance with applicable manufacturer requirements, regulatory requirements, permit conditions, and agreed service scope.
The Client agrees to provide continued access for required inspections, maintenance, sampling, monitoring, reporting, and service visits.
The Client is responsible for maintaining required service schedules, complying with permit conditions, and promptly addressing alarms, malfunctions, damage, misuse, or other system issues.
Non-compliance, denied access, unsafe conditions, system malfunction, missed service, or failure to maintain the system may be reported to applicable regulatory authorities where required or appropriate.
The Company is not responsible for system misuse, owner neglect, unauthorized repairs, third-party damage, power interruption, flooding, freezing, alarm neglect, chemical misuse, excessive flow, improper discharge, or failure to follow manufacturer, permit, or regulatory requirements.
16. Environmental and Public Health Compliance
The Company performs services with the intent to protect public health, groundwater, surface water, and surrounding environmental resources in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The Client agrees not to request, direct, authorize, or permit the Company to perform any act that violates environmental, wastewater, public health, safety, or regulatory requirements.
The Client acknowledges that wastewater systems may directly impact public health and the environment. The Company may be legally or professionally obligated to report certain conditions to regulatory authorities, including conditions that may pose a risk to public health, safety, groundwater, surface water, or the environment.
17. Weather, Seasonal, and Ground Conditions
Services may be delayed, limited, rescheduled, or canceled due to snow cover, frozen ground, flooding, high groundwater, unsafe excavation conditions, severe weather, saturated soils, inaccessible components, unsafe structures, or other site conditions.
The Company is not responsible for delays, transaction impacts, rate-lock issues, closing delays, lender delays, buyer/seller disputes, or other consequences resulting from weather, seasonal conditions, unsafe access, inaccessible components, or conditions outside the Company’s control.
Additional fees may apply for return visits, winter access work, excessive digging, snow or ice clearing, pumping coordination, or repeated attempts to inspect inaccessible components.
18. No Guarantee of Sale, Financing, Approval, or Transaction Outcome
The Company’s role is limited to performing inspection and related services within the agreed scope.
The Company does not guarantee:
• that the system will pass;
• that a buyer will proceed;
• that a seller will make repairs;
• that a lender will approve financing;
• that a closing will occur;
• that the Board of Health or MassDEP will accept any condition, repair, variance, local upgrade approval, or proposed solution;
• that a system is suitable for future expansion, increased bedroom count, change of use, commercial use, or increased flow.
The Client remains responsible for transaction decisions, legal advice, engineering design, repair decisions, negotiations, permit applications, and compliance obligations unless separately agreed in writing.
19. Additional Fees
Additional fees may apply for services or conditions not included in the base fee, including but not limited to:
• multiple systems;
• shared systems;
• commercial systems;
• I/A systems;
• tight tanks;
• grease traps;
• pump chambers;
• cesspools;
• inaccessible or buried components;
• excessive digging or probing;
• excavation coordination;
• pumping coordination;
• water testing;
• well research;
• municipal file review;
• review of prior records;
• return visits;
• reinspection’s;
• post-repair review;
• winter conditions;
• unsafe or delayed access;
• missed appointments;
• tenant coordination;
• neighboring property coordination;
• Board of Health meetings or extended communications;
• rush requests;
• revised reports caused by inaccurate or incomplete Client information.
Payment is due as stated in the booking platform, invoice, estimate, proposal, or written agreement.
20. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost profits, lost sale proceeds, failed transactions, closing delays, lender delays, rate-lock losses, buyer/seller disputes, loss of use, diminution in value, or emotional distress.
The Company is not responsible for:
• pre-existing conditions;
• hidden or inaccessible defects;
• undocumented components;
• inaccurate owner or third-party information;
• system misuse or neglect;
• changes occurring after inspection;
• seasonal groundwater variation;
• future system performance;
• third-party acts or omissions;
• municipal, DEP, lender, buyer, seller, attorney, or broker decisions.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company’s total liability for any claim arising out of or related to the services shall not exceed the amount paid by the Client to the Company for the specific service giving rise to the claim.
Nothing in these Terms limits liability in a manner prohibited by applicable law.
21. Indemnification
The Client agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Company, its owners, members, managers, employees, contractors, agents, and representatives from and against claims, damages, losses, liabilities, fines, penalties, costs, attorney’s fees, and expenses arising out of or related to:
• inaccurate, incomplete, or withheld information;
• failure to disclose site hazards;
• failure to disclose wells, utilities, or system components;
• lack of authority to order services;
• denied access or unauthorized access claims;
• tenant, owner, buyer, seller, broker, or third-party disputes;
• site conditions;
• unsafe conditions;
• third-party contractor work;
• system misuse, neglect, alteration, or unauthorized repair;
• Client’s breach of these Terms.
This indemnification does not apply to the extent a claim is caused by the Company’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
22. Force Majeure and Conditions Outside Company Control
The Company shall not be liable for delay, nonperformance, incomplete performance, or rescheduling caused by events outside its reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, snow, frozen ground, flooding, utility interruption, unsafe site conditions, illness, labor shortage, equipment failure, vehicle issues, municipal delay, DEP delay, laboratory delay, third-party contractor delay, inaccessible components, inaccurate records, or acts of God.
23. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Any dispute arising out of or related to the services shall be handled in Massachusetts unless otherwise required by law.
24. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
25. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with any written estimate, proposal, invoice, booking form, service description, addendum, or written agreement issued by the Company, constitute the entire agreement between the Client and the Company regarding the services.
No oral statement, text message, email, website description, advertisement, or informal communication shall modify these Terms unless expressly agreed in writing by the Company.
26. Electronic Acceptance
The Client agrees that electronic acceptance through Acuity Scheduling, online booking, checkbox acknowledgment, email confirmation, payment submission, or other electronic methods constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
By scheduling services, submitting an appointment request, making payment, authorizing work, or allowing the Company to proceed on site, the Client agrees to be legally bound by these Terms and Conditions.