Research results from Canada, Ireland and Australia on the constant head v traditional method
If you are involved in the onsite wastewater professions, either as a designer, installer, inspector or regulator, the infamous ‘Perc’ test can be the proverbial thorn in your …….. !
Most onsite sewage systems rely on soil as a receiving media to perform treatment and allow infiltration for water recycling. For better or worse, many soil absorption systems (SAS) are sized based on their infiltration capacity with clean water – referred to as the “Perc Rate”.
But not all soils are perfect and not all soils are equal when it comes to good treatment capacity and capability. For better or worse, many systems are governed by how well these soils perform measured by the ‘perc’ test.
In this Seminar a panel of international experts looked at the choices.
Perc Rate is determined by measuring how long it takes for water to drop a particular distance in the perc test hole. Some jurisdictions require presoaking the test hole and some do not. The exact procedure varies considerably throughout the world including the US. As a result, the Perc Rate is subject to the soil conditions at the time of the test and the specific hole dimensions, water depth, etc.
Due to these shortcomings, many codes and practitioners are instead advocating for measurement of soil field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) or permeability for short. Permeability/Kfs is a true soil property unlike Perc Rate. For most sandy and loamy soils, permeability tests can be completed in a fraction of the time as percolation tests.
Many jurisdictions question the accuracy of a percolation test to assess the treatment quality of soil and instead rely on an analysis performed by a soil scientist. Is there a benefit to making soil infiltration testing part of the site evaluation process? What sort of qualifications and training are necessary to be able to conduct permeability tests properly?
There are three options to view the event recording.
- For PDH credit you can register here for the on demand full recording,
- To watch the full recording on Vimeo here is the link
3. To watch the individual sections use these Vimeo links
Speakers. Section One
Richard Flynn. BEng, CEng, CEnv, C.WEM, C. Build E FCABE, MIEI, MCIWEM, FIET, MIEnvSc, FIMS (dip. IMS), PEng, FIPWS. And Wastewater Education 501(c)3 Board of Directors
Richard is a Certified Site Assessor has been the Chairman of the Irish Onsite Wastewater Association since 2014.
Here are the links to the documents referenced in Richard Flynn’s presentation:-
https://shop.standards.ie/en-ie/Standards/SR-6-1975-864229_SAIG_NSAI_NSAI_2055617/
Kelly Galloway, P.Eng., is a Civil Engineer with over 25 years experience, 20 years with her own consulting firm, Engineering Technologies Canada Ltd. (ETC). Kelly is the recipient of multiple awards for excellence in engineering and sustainable design. She also developed the ETC Pask Constant Head Permeameter Kit and other products for the onsite wastewater industry.
Speakers. Section Two
Laurence Gill is a Professor in Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin. His research includes studying the fate and transport of both air and water-borne pollutants in the natural and built environment, the development of passive treatment processes and karst hydrological catchments. His research on on-site wastewater treatment have contributed to the development of the Irish EPA’s legislative Code of Practice for domestic wastewater treatment systems. And Joanne MacMahon.
Speaker Section Three
Jim Kelly Director and founder of Arris in 2000, a company that specializes in the sustainable use, assessment and management of recycled water and agricultural production systems. Jim is recognized as a leader in the beneficial use, compliance and approvals of waste streams and associated projects.
Jim Kelly’s Presentation:
Q& A Session all panelists
WasteWaterEducation-Information 