On Cape Cod there is very little town sewer. Most properties have private septics which need to be pumped, repaired or in the case of Title 5 rules, replaced. In the State of Massachusetts, you must have a title 5 compliance for the transfer of ownership or an agreement to hold funds to replace the septic in two years after a failure. This is pretty straight forward. Some cash sales can get away with replacing their septic until the 2 years is up...then the town will step in and require an upgrade. All septic tests are filed with the Health Department...
My husband and I have enjoyed our home for 
15 years... Our septic has been a functioning part of our home for 30... 10 years longer than most....
I was not surprised when the snow melted and the flowers started to emerge that my husband delivered the news of a soft and soggy back yard. He was puzzeled? I said ...let's have the septic pumped and see if that is the issue. To his surprise... the leach field needs replacing... !
We are not intending to sell. We did not have a test so the town will never know .... We could band aid this septic for a long time. Afterall, the kids don't live here anymore. The showers and washing is just for my husband and I... We have guests but never for more than a week at a time... We could be septic cautious...
And save $10,000 dollars during this economic crunch... We could.
But in my head... I am thinking that it will be the time I have a fund raiser in the gardens on a hot July day that the smell of the septic will gurgle up from the garden's and make my life a living hell. It will be the time that the Theater company is visiting from NEw YORk and they are entertaining on the deck that their eyes will water from the odor not unlike that which comes from the City sewer.
No... We are not risking it. We are investing in a new Septic. My husband ever frugal, didn't like this plan. Until I reminded him... that having the back yard dug up in the spring is far better than the fall... because the grass will grow and we won't live in mud for months on end...
Sadly, we just sold our house in New Hampshire and invested in a new septic there too.... We are becoming quite savy as to septic installs.
Now when we sell in 5 years... we won't have to worry about the septic ... It's a good thing.
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