Rural Home CompassEvidence policy
Sources and methodology
Initial guidance is based on primary public sources and applicable state or local agencies. Each published record includes its source URL, review date, scope, and limitations.
Septic systems
Our national planning baseline uses EPA guidance for system care and inspection, common service questions, and malfunction warning signs. State, local, permit, and system-specific requirements override it.
Open the transparent estimator →Geography
Modeled well prevalence or ZCTA data helps prioritize research; it does not prove that a particular property has a private well or septic system.
What a source does—and does not—establish
EPA/CDC guidance, controlling state/local requirements, technical observations and RHC planning advice are different evidence layers. A source link supports only the associated claim and conditions, not our entire algorithm. A recommendation is not a law; an observation is not a diagnosis; a derived estimate is not a measurement.
Conflicting official references retain their scope and uncertainty. We may limit a conclusion or use clearly labeled general background rather than combine conflicting numbers. Missing records do not establish illegality or safety. Applicable local authorities and professional findings remain important.
Review dates and corrections
Source-review dates identify actual evidence checks, not a new guarantee created by rebuilding the website. Publication, content updates and source review may have different dates. A page is not a substitute for checking the current rule or the actual laboratory report.
Send the page URL, disputed statement and supporting agency link or document to admin@ruralhomecompass.com. Do not wait for an editorial response during an urgent safety concern. See Contact, About and Disclosures for related practices.