STORMWATER FACILITY PLANNING AND TESTING
Innovative, creative, aesthetic
and site-specific design concepts!
Soil profile descriptions in deep test pits,
prepared by a
Certified Professional Soil Scientist and mapping to
characterize the landscape’s subsurface hydrology and
underlying geologic strata. This step is essential
to stormwater planning and design under the Pennsylvania
Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual. Based
on soil porosity and patterns of water movement, areas
suited to infiltration, retention, and discharge can be
identified. Reports on soil characteristics and
permeability are used to supplement the engineer’s
report for NPDES permit applications.
Post-construction monitoring
services.
“Ksat” Testing (saturated soil hydraulic conductivity
testing) is best accomplished using metered water,
released to controlled hole diameters and water column
heights, while maintaining a constant-head, and
recording in timed increments. Appropriate methods
use the double-ring infiltrometer (suitable only for
sites without surface stoniness), and a variety of
permeameter devices with Ksat rates computed with
formulas based on Darcy’s Law.
The traditional “perc test,” was intended for
conservative sizing of small septic systems.
It uses a falling head and variable diameter holes,
and is not reliable for accurately assessing
infiltration rates for larger landscapes.
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