What should I ask about an RV park’s septic dump station and water supply?

These systems decide whether the park can host guests at all. For the septic system and dump station, ask who built them, how they are serviced and how often, and what has gone wrong before. Ask about smells, backups, pump-outs and any complaints from guests or neighbours. Request the service records and any inspection reports, and ask whether the system has room for the sites the park already has, and for any it plans to add.

On water, ask where it comes from, whether it is tested and what the test records show. Ask about pressure in busy weekends, frozen lines, line breaks and how water is shut off for the winter. If the park depends on a well or a shared source, ask what it would cost and how long it would take to replace.

Bring a qualified specialist to inspect both systems, as a general inspection rarely goes deep enough. Ask the seller for what was spent on repairs, and compare it with the financial statements. Your lawyer and local authorities can confirm what applies to the park’s systems and whether any approvals transfer to a buyer. Ask whether any past work was done by the owner rather than a trade, and have a professional look at it.

Key takeaways

• Request service and inspection records for the septic and dump station.
• Ask about water source, testing and winter shut-off.
• Bring a specialist to check capacity against the number of sites.