When Are Percolation Tests Used?
You may know what a Percolation Test is but do you actually know when one is needed? A Percolation Test is always carried out at properties to determine the size of its drainage field, for example a soak away system and if one needs to be installed.
When carrying out a Percolation Test there are a number of factors that must be considered. If you want to know more please continue reading this short article.
If you’re thinking of installing a new drainage system ie: soak away or sewage treatment plant then a Percolation Test must be conducted. One of the main points of the test is to determine how fast the water drains away from the surrounding soil solidified by a VP value.
Should you wish to install or replace a soak away system it’s vital a Percolation Test is undertaken first.
What Happens Before A Percolation Test Is Needed?
First things first before you carry out a percolation test you need to perform a Groundwater Source Protection Zone search and a Trial Site Assessment Hole that allows you to gain full access to the groundwater table within your premises/site.
These tests are absolutely necessary because they ensure that new systems installed run smoothly and don't pose a threat to groundwater sources or contamination or affect drinking water supplies. The tests also evaluate risks that your new system will have on the current existing water table level.
If you don’t want to run the risk of your planning permission being halted or denied then you must make sure these tests are carried out and recorded, the last thing you want is not being able to install your new drainage system.
Testing The Soil Type
As discussed earlier percolation tests are the perfect way to measure the flow of discharge water from a drains system but they can also be used to determine the density of the surrounding soil as this can vary in certain areas so percolation tests can measure any type of soil and determine what it is and weather it needs suit your new drainage system.
In many cases water flows too slowly through a drainage system causing pooling and even flooding. But in other cases water can flow through the system too quickly resulting in water not being treated properly when it is passed through.
If you’re looking for the best soil types for drainage systems then it’s typically the more chalky or sandy type less suitable would be silty and clay soils. So carrying out percolation tests allows us to determine the soils are compatible with your new drainage system as well as help determine the size of the drainage system required.