Stormwater
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Stormwater Facility Soil & Site Characterization With Ksat Permeability Testing
Innovative, creative, aesthetic and site-specific design concepts!
We specialize in soil profile descriptions for deep test pits, prepared by a Certified Professional Soil Scientist, with mapping to characterize the landscape’s subsurface hydrology and underlying strata, tied to infiltration rates. This is an essential tool for stormwater planning and design under the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual. Based on soil porosity and patterns of water movement, areas suited to infiltration, retention, and discharge can be identified and mapped. We help coordinate planning for areas of infiltration and for sewage disposal to prevent groundwater contamination. Reports on soil characteristics and permeability are used to supplement the engineer’s report for NPDES permit applications.
Post-construction stormwater facility inspection & monitoring.
“Ksat” testing (saturated soil hydraulic conductivity testing) is best accomplished using metered water, released to controlled hole diameters and water column heights, while maintaining a constant-head, and recording in timed increments. Appropriate methods use the double-ring infiltrometer (suitable only for sites without surface stoniness), and a variety of permeameter devices with Ksat rates computed with formulas based on Darcy’s Law.
