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Soil Analysis for Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Systems

Objective:

Soil Analysis for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Systems) is designed as a one-day course providing guidelines for making soil evaluations and other field investigations for onsite septic systems. Extensive discussions include soil physical characteristics, test-pit analysis, percolation tests, liquid flow in soils, seasonal water tables, terminology and data collection. The workshop is intended for all individuals with an interest in Onsite Wastewater Treatment, especially field professionals and system installers.

• (Earn 7.5 hours of NYS DOS in-service hours of credit and .75 continuing education units of credit.)
  
  TOPICS

• Introductions

• Basics of Soils
  Safety Issues - Purpose and Approach of Evaluations - Concept of Vertical Separation Distance - Soil Profile Characteristics - Soil Physical Composition and Porosity

• Video – Evaluating Soils For Onsite Septic Systems (32 minutes)

• Soil Texture

• Soil Classification Systems

• Soil Structure

• Soil Consistence and Bulk Density
  Definitions - Terms of Expression - Relevance to Soil Evaluations

• Permeability Determinations
  Percolation Tests vs. Estimates from Soil Evaluations - Appropriate Depths for Percolation Tests - Effects of Soil Structure

• Soil Color

• Soil Profiles and Horizons

• Water Movement in Soil

• Effluent Treatment in Soil
  Biological Clogging Mat and its Development - Treatment of Biochemical Oxygen Demand - Nitrogen Compounds - Phosphorus - Disease-causing Organisms and Other Compounds - Effluent Plume Movement

• Additional Site Limitations

• Soil Survey Reports

• Data Collection

• Summary

• References
  
  Participant Materials
  Presentation Manual, DOH Design Handbook

Printable PDF file

Larry Day digs into the soil to emphasize the value of soil evaluations, test pit analysis, and percolation tests for onsite septic systems.