25 Pa. Code § 73.14 - Site investigation
(a)
Absorption area. Soil tests to determine the presence of a
limiting zone and the capacity of the soil to permit the passage of water shall
be conducted prior to permit issuance.
(1) On
all locations where the installation of an absorption area is proposed, at
least one excavation for examination of the soil profile shall be
provided.
(2) The depth of the
excavation shall be to the top of the limiting zone, or a maximum of 7
feet.
(3) All soil profile
excavations shall be conducted within 10 feet of the proposed absorption area.
A description of the soil profile shall be recorded on the site investigation
and percolation test report form for onlot disposal of sewage issued by the
Department.
(4) Where soil has been
removed by grading or excavation, the surface of the undisturbed soil shall be
considered to be the point from which the depth to limiting zone is measured.
Excavatating soil to system installation depth for the purpose of installing
the system may not be considered disturbing the soil.
(5) When the examination of the soil profile
reveals a limiting zone within 20 inches of the mineral soil surface,
percolation tests may not be conducted and a permit will be denied except as
provided in §
73.77 (relating to general
requirements for bonded disposal systems).
(6) Where examination of the soil profile
reveals the absence of a limiting zone within 20 inches of the mineral soil
surface, percolation tests shall be performed within the proposed absorption
area. The average percolation rate shall be within the range indicated in
§
73.16 (relating to absorption area
requirements).
(7) The location and
depth to the limiting zone of all soil profile excavations and the location of
all percolation tests conducted on a lot shall be indicated on the plot plan of
the Application for Sewage Disposal System issued by the Department or attached
diagram.
(b)
Spray field.
(1) Soil tests to
determine the presence of a limiting zone shall be conducted prior to permit
issuance.
(2) A minimum of 4 soil
profile evaluations shall be evenly spaced within 10 feet of the perimeter of
the proposed spray field when the spray field is less than or equal to 20,000
square feet.
(3) Spray fields in
excess of 20,000 square feet shall be evaluated by evenly spacing the soil
profiles within 10 feet of the perimeter of the proposed spray field at
intervals of 100 feet or less.
(4)
The soil profile information collected within the proposed spray field area
shall be considered in the design and permitting of the system. Additional
soils profiles, both on the perimeter or within the proposed spray field, may
be required when the sewage enforcement officer identifies trends in the soils
profiles or surface features which document variable soils conditions in the
area of the proposed spray field. These trends include, but are not limited to,
unsuitable soil areas mixed with suitable soils within the proposed site and
surface features such as rock outcrops, mine subsidence, boreholes and
sinkholes.
(5) Soil profiles shall
be evaluated to the depth of bedrock, or rock formation or 40 inches whichever
is shallower.
(6) When the
examination of the soil profile reveals a limiting zone of a seasonal high
water table within 10 inches of the mineral soil surface or a limiting zone as
indicated by bedrock or coarse fragments with insufficient fine soil to fill
voids that are located within 16 inches of the mineral soil surface, a permit
for an individual residential spray irrigation system will be denied.
Notes
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