perculation test

Lainey

I'm probably shockingly thick wit this but here goes,,,

our engineer did the perculation test (on site i hope to build on) last week, after three weeks of horrible rain.. it failed.. the site is a field halved an other half of field passed it no probs last summer..

question i'm askin is - does the weather have big impact on the perculation testing on a site..

any comments welcome as i'm presuming the proposed buying and transporting of top soil to eliminate the problem will be pricey:(

thanks

secman

Have new guidelines or has a New Developement Plan come into play since last year, if so goalposts have moved since other half of field was tested. On the flip side if ground is saturated now, what would it be like when house is built and sewerage system is up and running, how efficient do you want the percolation system it to be ? Think long term.

yours
Secman

muffler

secman wrote:

Have new guidelines or has a New Developement Plan come into play since last year, if so goalposts have moved since other half of field was tested. On the flip side if ground is saturated now, what would it be like when house is built and sewerage system is up and running, how efficient do you want the percolation system it to be ? Think long term.

yours
Secman

Good advice indeed.

The weather of course is a factor. Had there been 3 weeks of glorious sunshine you would have got a different result. It may not have been a whole lot different but the T value would have changed. And when you would have had your septic tank or package plant installed and the sewage started to float on top of the ground in wet weather you would be blaming everyone for this.

The rainfall has been a lot higher than normal over the last couple of weeks but it isn't that unusual. You are much better off knowing now what to expect.

Lainey

thanks for your comments., much appreciated.... another question for ye if ye don't mind, we were advised to either a. bring in top soil for existing site or b. look for a new site.. got this site at a fairly decent price so hopin the top soil won't break de budget.. or does anyone know how successful this method is..

thanks for the help

secman

Our site failed the percolation test as would most of the sites in Co. Wexford due to soil type. We had to import soil to build up a raised bed percolation area, think it cost approx €2,500 all in. that included all materials ( suitabley graded soil, stone, membrane, piping and distribution box ) and the construction of it. The end result is what matters, you don't want to end up with a boggy soggy garden !

Lainey

thanks secman, thats not too bad, can mangage that.. now just to sell my house

muffler

Lainey wrote:

.. now just to sell my house

Nah, you're alright. We dont usually charge that much for advice.

Lainey

haha.. v. good.. but i insist:D

slowharry

just adding my 2 cents

soil types can vary a lot over a site nevermind the one next door. the test sholud be carried out when the ground is saturated. thats why a pre soak should be done. epa test guidelines day 1 fill test holes in the morning and evening. day 2 fill the test hole in the morning carry out the test in the evening. weather should have minimal effect on a properly carried out test. wet weater will raise water table and that might bring further issues