Percolation Tests

Percolation (PERC) testing is required for any property that is not going to be served by public sewer and before any on-site sewage disposal system can be installed. If you plan to build on undeveloped property in Prince George's County and your property is unable to be served by public sewer, you must apply to the Prince George's County Health Department to conduct PERC testing.

Update 04/23/2025

The start of Wet Season is determined by the conditions of perched observation wells located throughout the county. Well readings reveal that the conditions required to start the Wet Season have not been met.  Due to lower-than-normal ground water levels and the lack of saturation withing the soil profile, Wet Season PERC testing is postponed until next year.  

To learn more, view the 2025 Percolation Testing Announcement.

Application

When you want to get a percolation test done for a piece of land, you need to follow a few steps. First, you have to apply through the Momentum website. They process applications in the order they receive them.

To get the test, you must submit your application and pay the required lot fee. There's also a 5% technology fee added to the total amount. No testing will happen until they get your application and process it.

If you've applied for a percolation test before, and it was accepted by the Health Department, it won't work for the upcoming wet season. You need to apply again. But, if you're testing new pieces of land that you didn't mention before, you don't need to reapply.

In simple terms, apply online, pay the fees, and wait for them to process your application before any testing can happen. If you're testing new areas, you might need to apply again, but not if you've already mentioned them in your previous applications.