Percolation Tests.

[Stroppymonkey]

Percolation Tests.

Morning all. I have been asked to sort the paperwork/oversee the percolation tests for a neighbors/friends septic tank system. I am keen to get involved as I would like to possibly cover this type of work in the future. (Not sure I can stomach another 25 years of full time domestic heating and plumbing). Looking to use augers if possible. Cant see any quals required for this, just following the requirements laid out? Does anyone have a cheat sheet for this? Does it vary according to local authority / septic tank manufacturer? I am very used to being in a very regulated industry so groundworks in domestic situations seems very lax by comparison.

(chap has machine and wants to do whole job himself (understandably) but wants to make sure its kosher in case of future sale) Unsure yet if he needs a drainage field or not.

 

[JD450A]

Depends on the council. But most will have specs for the test pit size to standardise it and make it easy for there own staff. Locally I think Soakaway is 600mm x 2m x 2.5m. and percolation is a 300mm square at a set depth.

Percolation for septic doesn't actually need much more than a shovel and a couple 25L drums target depth wants to be around 600-800 below ground. Deeper and the aerobic bacteria that lives in the system won't thrive and the field won't work properly.

Soakaway tests are different again.... Tractor bowser for that.

If I'm honest it's fast becoming the remit of a geotechnical engineer and some councils will pull funny faces unless the calcs come on headed notepaper from one.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Depends on the council. But most will have specs for the test pit size to standardise it and make it easy for there own staff. Locally I think Soakaway is 600mm x 2m x 2.5m. and percolation is a 300mm square at a set depth.

Percolation for septic doesn't actually need much more than a shovel and a couple 25L drums target depth wants to be around 600-800 below ground. Deeper and the aerobic bacteria that lives in the system won't thrive and the field won't work properly.

Soakaway tests are different again.... Tractor bowser for that.

If I'm honest it's fast becoming the remit of a geotechnical engineer and some councils will pull funny faces unless the calcs come on headed notepaper from one.

Thanks. Its for septic . Headed note paper wont be a issue. I will have a chat with my local BCO as he is pretty human.

 

[Furniss]

Im on the boundry of départements with different Regs - one required a soil test by a "specialist" company the other was not obligatory - i just got it done in both, then its not on you if its doesn't work 2 years later, If its a compact filter or blown system straight to ditch then its a simpler job.

 

[Furniss]

Depends on the council. But most will have specs for the test pit size to standardise it and make it easy for there own staff. Locally I think Soakaway is 600mm x 2m x 2.5m. and percolation is a 300mm square at a set depth.

Percolation for septic doesn't actually need much more than a shovel and a couple 25L drums target depth wants to be around 600-800 below ground. Deeper and the aerobic bacteria that lives in the system won't thrive and the field won't work properly.

Soakaway tests are different again.... Tractor bowser for that.

If I'm honest it's fast becoming the remit of a geotechnical engineer and some councils will pull funny faces unless the calcs come on headed notepaper from one.

Where the heck do you get all this knowledge ....you haven't had time to do everything

 

[JD450A]

Where the heck do you get all this knowledge ....you haven't had time to do everything

Insert university student joke......

We do a lot of contracting for a lot of customers and span everything from building/civils to geotechnical to agricultural to environmental. We did a stint with the local geotechnical engineer when he first started up his business on his own. I like to stand and listen rather than watch the idiot box or talk football/shite or sleep. Amazing what you can learn if you spend time stood around experts.

I'm also fairly autistic in many ways and will happily take in visual information and talking like a sponge. Not the brightest, but I learn quick.

Got to remember too I'm nearly dead/35.... Getting old now.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Insert university student joke......

We do a lot of contracting for a lot of customers and span everything from building/civils to geotechnical to agricultural to environmental. We did a stint with the local geotechnical engineer when he first started up his business on his own. I like to stand and listen rather than watch the idiot box or talk football/shite or sleep. Amazing what you can learn if you spend time stood around experts.

I'm also fairly autistic in many ways and will happily take in visual information and talking like a sponge. Not the brightest, but I learn quick.

Got to remember too I'm nearly dead/35.... Getting old now.

Too much paracetamol obviously. Think my mum must have been knocking em back when hatching me as well

 

[Furniss]

Insert university student joke......

We do a lot of contracting for a lot of customers and span everything from building/civils to geotechnical to agricultural to environmental. We did a stint with the local geotechnical engineer when he first started up his business on his own. I like to stand and listen rather than watch the idiot box or talk football/shite or sleep. Amazing what you can learn if you spend time stood around experts.

I'm also fairly autistic in many ways and will happily take in visual information and talking like a sponge. Not the brightest, but I learn quick.

Got to remember too I'm nearly dead/35.... Getting old now.

Geotechnical ...I'll Google it later
Usually takes a bright person to know you learn more listening than talking so you might be brighter than you think.

35 ffs that was the age it was when we moved here, must admit I thought i was old too back then, everything is relative.

 

[6feetdown]

Depends on the council. But most will have specs for the test pit size to standardise it and make it easy for there own staff. Locally I think Soakaway is 600mm x 2m x 2.5m. and percolation is a 300mm square at a set depth.

Percolation for septic doesn't actually need much more than a shovel and a couple 25L drums target depth wants to be around 600-800 below ground. Deeper and the aerobic bacteria that lives in the system won't thrive and the field won't work properly.

Soakaway tests are different again.... Tractor bowser for that.

If I'm honest it's fast becoming the remit of a geotechnical engineer and some councils will pull funny faces unless the calcs come on headed notepaper from one.

Septic min 2 to 3 holes 300mm square 300mm deep below proposed outlet invert. Holes to be filled 3 times

 

[Furniss]

Septic min 2 to 3 holes 300mm square 300mm deep below proposed outlet invert. Holes to be filled 3 times

300 below invert upto a maximum depth otherwise pumped ?

 

[6feetdown]

300 below invert upto a maximum depth otherwise pumped ?

Yes usually no more than 1m as the ground can't digest
Wales is a mare as so much clay

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Yes usually no more than 1m as the ground can't digest
Wales is a mare as so much clay

You can make pots out of our soil. Yellow and Blue Clay..

 

[Storrsy]

Depends on the council. But most will have specs for the test pit size to standardise it and make it easy for there own staff. Locally I think Soakaway is 600mm x 2m x 2.5m. and percolation is a 300mm square at a set depth.

Percolation for septic doesn't actually need much more than a shovel and a couple 25L drums target depth wants to be around 600-800 below ground. Deeper and the aerobic bacteria that lives in the system won't thrive and the field won't work properly.

Soakaway tests are different again.... Tractor bowser for that.

If I'm honest it's fast becoming the remit of a geotechnical engineer and some councils will pull funny faces unless the calcs come on headed notepaper from one.

So basically @Stroppymonkey get yourself a 300m square auger and you'll be laughing.

 

[V8Druid]

So basically @Stroppymonkey get yourself a 300m square auger and you'll be laughing.

or a 350mm auger'd give you a little over kill volumetrically over a 300 x 300 hole

 

[Stroppymonkey]

So basically @Stroppymonkey get yourself a 300m square auger and you'll be laughing.

or a 350mm auger'd give you a little over kill volumetrically over a 300 x 300 hole

Think mine is 400mm and not square.

 

[Furniss]

Think mine is 400mm and not square.

Can you not square it up with an angle grinder ? Be smaller then too

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Can you not square it up with an angle grinder ? Be smaller then too

theoretically it’s doable . Might need some @V8Druid skills though.

 

[DaveDCB]

Download the building regs, it’s all documented in there then if bco is a donkey you can just quote the doc and shut them up!