Georgia Residential Contractor Practice Exam

What capacity expansion is required when adding a fifth bedroom to a septic tank?

1. No increase required

2. 250 gallons

3. 100 gallons

4. 150 gallons

The correct answer is: 250 gallons

When adding a fifth bedroom to a residence, an increase in the capacity of the septic tank is typically required. This is because the addition of a bedroom generally implies increased wastewater generation, necessitating a larger septic system to adequately handle the additional flow and maintain the system's effectiveness and longevity. In Georgia, the standard increase in septic tank capacity with each additional bedroom is often calculated based on a standard of 100 gallons per bedroom. Therefore, for each of the four previous bedrooms, the septic tank would originally need to accommodate a minimum of 400 gallons. When a fifth bedroom is added, an additional 250 gallons is typically required, bringing the new total to 1,000 gallons. Thus, selecting the option of 250 gallons as the required increase for the addition of a fifth bedroom accurately reflects the capacity that must be added to ensure proper functionality and compliance with regulations governing septic systems. This is crucial for maintaining health standards and preventing potential environmental contamination.