Research Methodology
Rules and permit information
We begin with current TCEQ OSSF guidance, 30 TAC Chapter 285, Kaufman County Development Services pages, the county's approved OSSF order, and applicable local authority documents. Articles link readers to the primary material used for important claims.
How the September 2026 review was done
In September 2026 every article, service page, and town page was rewritten and rechecked. Regulatory statements were read against the text of 30 TAC Chapter 285 and Chapter 30, TCEQ program pages and permitting data, Kaufman County Development Services pages and FAQ, and the county's TCEQ-approved OSSF order. The order is published as a scanned PDF, so its text was read from the page images and checked section by section. Practical guidance draws on Texas A&M AgriLife Extension OSSF publications and EPA SepticSmart; lending and real estate points draw on the VA Lender's Handbook, HUD Handbook 4000.1, and TREC forms and rules.
When a primary source could not be opened or did not support a claim, the claim was removed or rewritten as something to confirm with the permitting authority. Material corrections are listed in the correction log.
The October 2026 consistency review
In October 2026 every page was checked against a single set of canonical facts and planning numbers, to reduce conflicting answers between pages. Contacts for the county, Terrell, Oak Ridge, Heath, and TRWD were checked against the agencies' own pages. Automated checks flag prohibited punctuation, broken internal links, and several known factual regressions. They do not replace source review or professional judgment. Material changes are listed in the correction log.
Permit statistics
County permit totals and system-type percentages come from TCEQ historical OSSF permitting data. The county program reported 514 authorizations to construct in 2024: 488 surface irrigation, 14 drip, 5 low-pressure dosing, and 7 other. Surface irrigation accounts for about 95% of that row. Disposal categories do not establish the treatment technology for every system. City and TRWD authorizations appear separately, and the figures do not describe all existing homes. See the 2024 TCEQ table.
Cost ranges
Cost figures are planning ranges, not bids, appraisals, or a statistically representative price index. The guide does not yet publish a documented local quote survey. Installation, repair, electricity, and long-term ownership figures should be read as illustrative allowances with the stated assumptions. The $400-$550 permit allowance used in some examples has not been verified as the county's current charge. Ask the issuing office for the actual amount. Do not add evaluation, design, permit, electrical work, or the initial service policy twice when a contractor already includes them.
Information cutoff
This review uses October 13, 2026 as its information cutoff. Edits made on October 14 retain that actual modification date. An undated live agency page cannot prove what was published on a particular earlier day. Parcel decisions still need confirmation from the responsible office, especially where agency pages disagree or a current fee is unavailable.
Dates and revisions
Each article stores its actual publication and modification dates. Sitemap dates come from those records rather than a site-wide artificial timestamp. A page's modified date changes only after a substantive update.
Limitations
Parcel jurisdiction, soil, setbacks, fees, and rules can change. Readers should confirm decisions with the applicable authority and a properly licensed professional. To challenge a source or calculation, use the corrections process.