What is a Soil Test?
A soil test determines the type, size and design of an onsite wastewater treatment system
WHY THE SOIL IS IMPORTANT
When designing an onsite wastewater treatment system, it is important to evaluate the soil to determine whether the site is suitable to support a wastewater dispersal field
PERFORMING "THE TEST"
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| Proper design & operation of an onsite system hinges on the soil's ability to absorb wastewater |
- Typically, 2-5+ soil borings (backhoe pits) are excavated in the vicinity of the proposed dispersal field
- Each boring is typically 3-6' deep, allowing designers and regulators to examine the soil's characteristics
- The soil's horizons (layers), depth, color, structure and texture are classified per the USDA Soil Classification System
- The designer is also looking for indications of the seasonally high groundwater table, generally a limiting condition for a dispersal field
THE RESULTS
After analyzing the soils, the designer prepared a detailed map and report describing the soils at each boring location:
- Horizon, the differing layers within the soil
- Depth of soil, described in inches
- Dominant color, based on the Munsell color chart
- Presence of water (mottled colors)
- Texture is mixture of sand, loam, clay & silt (calculator)
- Structure is how well the soil sticks together
- Consistence describes how loose or compact the soil is
- Drainage class describes the relative wetness of soil
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| The designer carefully records his observations |
IDENTIFY LIMITING LAYERS
One of the main advantages of a soil test is that "limiting layers", which can severely affect the proper function of an onsite wastewater treatment system, can be defined
Limiting layers include bedrock, dense soils with slow permeability, sandy or gravelly soils with very rapid permeability, and the seasonal high water table
BENEFITS OF AQUAKLEAR TREATMENT
Many state regulations require at least 2' of separation from the bottom of a dispersal field to the limiting layer, so the results of the soil test will determine the type, design, location and size of the dispersal field
AquaKlear treatment with a subsurface drip dispersal field can help address limiting conditions at your property... learn more:
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