Correct - your builder may be faced with moving it anyway... as it was not installed per plan / what was submitted to the building authority.

That's the first order of business - are the soil conditions the same there / will the changed location pass inspection?

If no - then you know what they have to do

If yes, then start thinking about what difference this really makes and list them out. It shouldn't cost you an extra dime obviously, and then think about something you want in exchange for the error.

Definitely ask them to show you the plans they submitted.
If you have written proof of where you asked them to install it, you may want to ask them to move it, at their cost. Do consider if where you are moving it will be reasonable to pump out, service, etc.

Yes, see what was permitted. If they made the change unilaterally, they need to move it at their expense.

As others have said, what was on the plans submitted to your building authority? If this isn't it, then they need to move it at their expense or get it repermitted.

The plumber is not paid to decide where to place it on his own without consulting you and the GC. It's on his dime to fix the problem.

If it will be that visible that it will ruin your views, it needs to be moved because if you ever want to sell, others will notice it too. And that difference can be thousands or even tens of thousands in lost revenue.

I tried several times to post from my cell phone today but it wouldn't post so I'm just now getting back to this. First, thank you for the advice and the time you all have taken to post a response!

Second, I should have added to my initial post that we are in the country, out of city limits so we did not deal with building authority nor did we have to get a permit, We are building to city code and the septic will have a final inspection with a home inspection company. I also failed to mention (but you might have gathered) that it's an aerobic system.

With that being said, when we were still in planning phase we met with the builder and discussed 3 options for possible locations of the septic and none of them were in the front of the house. Two were in the back near the garage and one on the side of the house with the lines going slightly downhill. I have my email to the builder which shows where we all decided it would be located.

We are not looking for big money but feel it's a pretty big error on their part and would like to be 'compensated' and want the builder to 'make it right'.

Brian, I like your idea of having the builder compensate us with trim or other home build 'stuff'. DH and I had already planned to pay cash for some cabinetry upgrades so I'll talk to him about trim or the difference in cabinet budget. That's more along the lines of what I had thought when we realized what had happened but I wanted to get opinions from you all here to make sure I was on the same page or a close page.

Jannicone, your suggestion of listing the differences between the 2 locations was great. I started a list today and DH and I will complete it this weekend.

Lookintomyeyes - I do have the email and the correspondence between me and the builder but don't have anything legal. Because the plumbing for the clean-outs is in the slab and we're moving very fast on the house I don't think moving it is an option for us. I guess that's why I'm so upset about this - I feel we are stuck with it.

Thank you for your advice and suggestions. I hope you all stay warm and dry this bitter cold weekend. Here in East Texas it's 22 degrees with a windchill of 9!! Very cold for us. We had a few sNOw flurries this afternoon.... but it's wicked cold!

Thanks again,

Sunny

Sunny if you have email between you and the builder stating where you wanted the septic, that is considered legal in a court of law. (My DH was a lawyer before retiring.)

CPArtist thank you for that. And YES I have the email plus we discussed it in person.

In litigation with my builder, judge considered email communication legal documentation.

We feel like the builder will work with us so we don't have to go to a legal level but it's reassuring to know that the email is considered a legal document.

Sunny

And ideally you want the builder to work with you, so that's the first thing.

But do consider how it will impact your view if you ever need to sell too. Can it be disguised in some way?

I'm already thinking of how to disguise the tank covers. It's advised not to plant anything close to the tanks/tank cover but we grow azaleas and hydrangeas here so I can make an kidney shaped bed several feet out of low growing shrubs. The panel and box on the house will need to be accessible but I can plant a shrub to partially hide them in a flower bed across the front. So most of the system will be hidden except there's no way to hide when the sprinklers come on.

"The plumber said he thought it would be more convenient but didn't check with us before he chose to move the system."

NO! He did NOT think! His brain was disengaged.

Often things happen like this because the tradesman on the site at the time looks for the easiest and shortest time for an installation. Without supervision, this is always a risk during construction at any phase.

Talk (seriously, but politely) with your general contractor about how he will supervise the correct installation.

DH and I have a meeting scheduled first thing Monday morning with the GC and the septic company.

I agree that there was no supervision. As you mention, Virgil, our plan is to stand firm yet be polite. DH is really good at this!!! :)

I'll let you know what happens.

Sunny

Know that it is truly amazing and unusual to not have a septic permitted. In my state, every septic field is planned, permitted and inspected. And I'm in NC which is not NY or CA. And the field being next to a lake makes it only that much more amazing. Don't know if I am jealous or appalled.

So those who don't know how an aerobic system with sprinklers works (like me) might have a hard time giving advice on your issue. Caps I get, sprinklers I don't. I also can't imagine how an inspector can make adequate judgement on a system once it is full installed.

Even in the most rural backwater location on the planet where I live, septic falls under the county Health Department and requires a perc test, and a permit. You don't just dump wastes into any old hole in the clay soil, even if the most genius septic designer in the county designed it. You're not dealing with a genius. Obviously . Any builder that tells you they don't need a permits is not being truthful . And your spidey sense should be tingling overtime to discover the other big fat lies that you've been told.

Waterfront locations have tons of regulations associated with building, mostly focused on maintaining that water quality. Many of them Federal. You need to put a halt to this and hire an attorney to be on your side for the trouble that I can see coming when some Federal nabob shuts the whole thing down.

Thinking more about it, I think you need to call your county offices and ask about requirements for septics in your county. I'd do it before your meeting with the GC.

CPA is right--call the county or whatever is the applicable jurisdiction and find out what the applicable regulations are BEFORE you have your meeting with the contractors.

Texas requires permits. There is only exceptions for very small houses in the middle of nowhere on large property. A large lake house does not meet that exception.

The TCEQ may be interested if no permit was pulled. There is a link inside for you local permitting authority. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assistance/water/fyiossfs.html

So, what was the result of the meeting? Did they try to pull the ''no permits needed'' bit?

Good morning!

Sorry I didn't get back here yesterday to give an update.

I've learned a lot over the past few days. First, and most important is DH DID complete papers for the septic permit and there is one. So, I stand corrected and quite relieved to know. I had surgery awhile back and he said it was done while I was "laying in bed." Lol

We met with the GC and owner of the septic company and the engineer yesterday. The engineer is who suggested the three locations and we chose the one on the side on the house. It was the plumber who decided to move it. The engineer said the new location is ok as far as how the system would work and we all signed documents with new location but he didn't offer it as an option because he didn't want it on that side of the house.

DH was fuming!!! In 27 years of being married I've rarely seen him angry, especially that upset. DH told the builder that since the plumber made the mistake he can pay to have a pot filler installed in the kitchen and we are having the builder pay for the tile install. In doing this DH and I upgraded both tubs to drop ins and they will have tile surround.

It's still not ideal but we'll be ok.

I appreciate all advice and apologize that I didn't know more before posting but you helped me learn!!

Thank and have a great day!

Sunny

I need to add that they did do soil and perc test. That's one thing I knew.