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Soak way Percolation Test

by JasonRestall

To have a excellent soak away you must have good soil. When the subsoil is well drained in addition to well oxygenated (consists of a supply of oxygen) then it will typically be a reddish, brown or yellow color. The best subsoil contains chalk, gravel, sand, clay loam and sandy loam, whereas silty clay, clay and sandy clay are certainly not very good for percolation. Take note that the first port of call ought to be with the Environment Agency as well as the local authorities to find out if your property will be eligible for a soak away system. If your entreaties to have a septic tank plus soak away system is denied then you will need to install a cesspool.

To start the percolation experiment you should dig a hole at least one meter squared and two meters deep, or one and a half meters underneath the invert of where you want the drainage field to be. It is worthy of noting that you must take into consideration the likely groundwater levels in the winter and in the summer season to get the most accurate test. This could require a test in both seasons.

Inside the hole that has just been dug, you will need to dig an additional hole 300mm cubed, and take away any loose debris. You need to then fill the 300mm square hole with water and allow it drain naturally over night. The following day you should refill the test hole, however this time you should see how long it takes, in seconds, to seep away. Record the outcome from 75% full to 25 % full. For example the depth at 225mm, then 150mm and finally at 75mm. You need to then divide the answer by 150, it will provide the typical time it takes in seconds for the water level to drop 1mm. To obtain the most accurate results you should carry the test out no less than three times, with at least two different trial holes. Please note that you should not take the test when it is raining heavy, or when you have a drastic drought or frost.

You should only setup a soak away when the experiment indicate that the average result for the water to drain away is between twelve and one hundred. In case your test results are outside of these limits then soak away is unlikely to be efficient. Nonetheless this could be overcome if have an alternatively second treatment for the sewage effluent.

In order to determine the size of the soak away that you require you need to use the following equation -

The area in meters squared = [the average time in seconds for your water to drop by one mm in the experiment hole (V) x the maximum number of people that the septic tank is designed for (p)] x 0.25 for septic tanks (if you have a sewage treatment plant then times the amount by 0.20) Take note that you should first times V by p before times the outcome by either 0.25 or 0.20.

Easier mathematical format -

Septic tank area = Vp x 0.25

Sewage treatment plant = Vp x 0.20

About the Author: Frank Cole

Learn more about sewage treatment. Stop by Jason Restall's site where you can find out all about septic tanks and what it can do for you.

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Soak way Percolation Test