DEP-Certified · Established 1990

Massachusetts Title 5 inspections,
septic systems, and site work done right.

Serving Southeastern Massachusetts since 1990. Whether you're selling a home and need a Title 5 inspection, replacing a failed septic system, or breaking ground on new construction — T Silvia Excavation is the local team that gets it done on time and to code.

Book a Title 5 Inspection → ☎ Call (508) 965-5758
1990
Established
3,000+
Title 5 Inspections
8 Towns
Service Area
Same-Week
Scheduling
What We Do

Excavation, septic, and site work — under one roof.

Most Massachusetts excavation outfits do one thing well. We do the full chain: inspect what's there, design what's next, and install it ourselves.

✦
Title 5 Inspections

DEP-certified inspections for home sales, refinancing, additions, or owner-initiated upgrades. Filed with your local Board of Health within 30 days, every time.

Book inspection →
⚒
Septic System Installation

Conventional, I/A (Innovative/Alternative), and tight-tank systems. We handle the soil eval, design coordination, BOH permits, and full installation.

Get a quote →
🏗
Site Preparation

Foundation excavation, grading, drainage, and utility trenching for new construction and additions. Working with builders across Southeastern MA.

Discuss your project →
💧
Sewer & Drainage

Sewer connections, French drains, sump systems, and stormwater management. From the property line to the house, we handle the whole run.

Schedule a site visit →
Distribution box inspection — what a DEP-certified inspector examines on every Title 5

What we're looking at on every inspection.

The distribution box tells the story. Liquid level at or above the outlet invert means the leach field isn't absorbing — that's a conditional pass at best, a failure at worst. DEP-certified eyes, photos, and measurements on every job we touch.

Book Your Inspection →
Where We Work

Southeastern Massachusetts — and we know every town's BOH.

Each Massachusetts town's Board of Health has its own quirks: what they accept, when they review, what variances they'll grant. We've worked with all of them. Here's where we're scheduled most weeks:

Towns We Serve

  • Swansea
  • Somerset
  • Fall River
  • Westport
  • Dartmouth
  • Rehoboth
  • Seekonk
  • Dighton
  • Berkley
  • Freetown
  • Acushnet
  • Lakeville

Don't see your town? Call us — we travel for the right project, and we likely already know the local BOH.

Typical Lead Times
Title 5 Inspection1–2 weeks out
Failed-system replacement quote3–5 business days
New septic install4–8 weeks (after permits)
Site prep / excavation2–4 weeks out
Emergency repairsSame week, often same day
Thomas Silvia Owner · Operator
About T Silvia Excavation

Established 1990. Built on doing it right the first time.

T Silvia Excavation was founded in Swansea in 1990 with one truck, one backhoe, and a commitment to leaving every job site better than we found it. Over 35 years later, we still operate out of the same town, with the same name on the truck — and with the kind of long-term local relationships that mean we're picking up the phone for a repeat customer ten years after the first job.

Our Title 5 inspectors are DEP-certified and current on continuing education. Our installation crews are licensed and bonded. And because we self-perform every step from inspection through replacement, there's no finger-pointing between contractors when something needs to be made right.

35+
Years in business
3,000+
Inspections completed
100%
On-time BOH filings
How It Works

A Title 5 inspection, start to finish.

Most homeowners have never done this before. Here's exactly what happens from the moment you book until the report is in your closing attorney's hands.

01

Book the inspection

Pick a date and time online or call us. We'll coordinate the pumping company on your behalf — they need to be on-site for the inspection.

02

On-site inspection

Two to three hours, weather-permitting. We locate and inspect the tank, distribution box, and leach field; verify setbacks; measure groundwater. Photos and measurements throughout.

03

Report drafted same day

You'll know the outcome — Pass / Conditional Pass / Fail — before we leave the driveway. Formal report follows by email within 48 hours.

04

Filed with your BOH

Filed with your town's Board of Health well before the 30-day deadline. Copies sent to your agent, attorney, and buyer's side automatically.

Honest Pricing

No hidden fees. No "we'll quote you when we get there."

Flat-rate inspection pricing. Septic system quotes depend on system size, site conditions, and scope.

Title 5 Inspection

$550
Includes tank pump-out, full inspection, written report, and BOH filing service. Town BOH filing fees are paid directly to the town.
  • DEP-certified inspector + licensed pumper on-site
  • Full as-built drawing of the system
  • Photos and measurements appendix
  • Filed with the BOH within 30 days, guaranteed
  • 2- or 3-year certificate (with pumping records)

Septic System Repair

$15K–$45K+
Conventional system. I/A or tight-tank systems run higher; we'll quote precisely.
  • Soil eval (perc test) by licensed evaluator
  • Engineered design + BOH permitting
  • Full installation by our own crew
  • State Title 5 betterment loan eligibility help
  • State income-tax credit guidance ($18K over 6 years)
Common Questions

Everything you wanted to ask but didn't know how.

What is a Title 5 inspection?

Title 5 is the Massachusetts state environmental code (310 CMR 15.000) governing private septic systems. An inspection is required when you sell a home, refinance, add bedrooms, subdivide, or if there's evidence of failure. A DEP-certified inspector evaluates the tank, distribution box, leach field, and setbacks, then issues a Pass / Conditional Pass / Fail finding that's filed with your local Board of Health.

How long is a Title 5 certificate good for?

2 years from the inspection date — or 3 years if you've kept the tank pumping records up to date.

Do I need to be home during the inspection?

No. We just need access to the system components and the dwelling (briefly, to confirm bedroom count). Many of our inspections happen with the homeowner at work or on vacation. We'll coordinate access with your agent or attorney.

What happens if my system fails?

You have 2 years to repair or replace, sooner if there's an imminent health hazard. T Silvia Excavation can handle the whole replacement in-house — soil eval, engineered design, BOH permitting, and installation. We can also help you apply for the state betterment loan (low-interest, 20-year repayment via property taxes) and the Massachusetts income tax credit (up to ~$18,000 spread over 6 years).

How much does a Title 5 inspection cost?

Our flat rate is $550 — that covers the tank pump-out, full inspection, written report, and the BOH filing service. Town BOH filing fees are paid directly to the town and vary by municipality. No surprise add-ons from us.

Can you do an inspection on a property I'm buying?

Yes — buyer-side Title 5 inspections are common. Even when the seller has provided a passing inspection, many buyers want their own independent review. We'll coordinate with the seller or their agent for site access.

What towns do you serve?

We work primarily in Swansea, Somerset, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Dighton, Berkley, Freetown, Acushnet, and Lakeville. We'll travel beyond that for the right project — call us to discuss.

How quickly can you get a report filed with the BOH?

State law gives us 30 days. We file within 5 business days for most towns, faster when there's a closing tied to it. The 30-day deadline isn't something you should ever have to worry about with us.

Schedule

Book your Title 5 inspection or request a quote.

Most calls get a response within one business hour. If you're closing soon, mention the closing date and we'll work backwards to fit you in.

Got it — we'll be in touch.

Most requests get a call back within one business hour. If you don't hear from us by end of business day, call us at (508) 965-5758.