ASTM D5879-95e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Surface Site Characterization for On-Site Septic Systems
Standard Practice for Surface Site Characterization for On-Site Septic Systems
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the characterization of surface conditions at a site for evaluating suitability for an on-site septic system for disposal and treatment of wastewater. This practice provides a method for identifying potentially suitable areas for soil absorption of septic tank wastewater.
1.2 This practice can be used at any site where on-site treatment of residential and nonhazardous commercial wastewaters using septic tanks and natural soils or constructed filter beds is required or an option under consideration. This practice may also be useful when constructed wetlands are used as an alternative wastewater treatment method.
1.3 This practice should be used in conjunction with Practices D5921 and D5925.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
Designation: D 5879 – 95
Standard Practice for
Surface Site Characterization for On-Site Septic Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5879; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
e NOTE—Paragraph 1.4 was added editorially October 1998.
1. Scope 3.2 constructed filter bed, n—a material, usually of a sandy
texture, placed above or in an excavated portion of the natural
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the characterization
soil for filtration and purification of wastewater from an on-site
of surface conditions at a site for evaluating suitability for an
septic system.
on-site septic system for disposal and treatment of wastewater.
3.3 on-site septic system, n—any wastewater treatment and
This practice provides a method for identifying potentially
disposal system that uses a septic tank or functionally equiva-
suitable areas for soil absorption of septic tank wastewater.
lent device for collecting waste solids and treats wastewater
1.2 This practice can be used at any site where on-site
using natural soils, or constructed filter beds with disposal of
treatment of residential and nonhazardous commercial waste-
the treated wastewater into the natural soil.
waters using septic tanks and natural soils or constructed filter
3.4 potentially suitable field area, n—the portions of a site
beds is required or an option under consideration. This practice
that remain after observable limiting surface features, such as
may also be useful when constructed wetlands are used as an
excessive slope, unsuitable landscape position, proximity to
alternative wastewater treatment method.
water supplies, and applicable setbacks, have been excluded.
1.3 This practice should be used in conjunction with Prac-
3.5 recommended field area, n—the portion of the poten-
tices D 5921 and D 5925.
tially suitable field area at a site that has been determined to be
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
most suitable for an on-site septic system soil absorption field
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
or filter bed based on surface and subsurface observations.
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
3.6 soil absorption area, n—an area of natural soil used for
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
filtration and purification of wastewater from an on-site septic
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
system.
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
3.7 soil absorption field area, n—an area that includes soil
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
absorption trenches and any soil barriers between the trenches.
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
Also called a leachfield.
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
3.8 soil absorption trench, n—an excavated trench, usually
title of this document means only that the document has been
1.5 to 3 ft wide that receives wastewater for treatment. Also
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
called a lateral or leachline.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Summary of Practice
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 This practice describes a procedure using existing infor-
D 5921 Practice for Subsurface Characterization of Test Pits
mation about a site, simple field equipment, and visual obser-
for On-Site Septic Systems
vation for identifying and evaluating all significant conditions
D 5925 Practice for Preliminary Sizing and Delineation of
at the surface of a site, including climate, vegetation, topogra-
Soil Absorption Field Areas for On-Site Septic System
phy, surface drainage, water sources, and human influences
3. Terminology
(structures, property lines), that may affect the suitability for
design and construction of an on-site septic system. The
3.1 clinometer, n—an instrument for measuring inclination,
procedure involves exclusion of areas that are unsuitable for
as in topographic slope.
natural soil absorption or constructed filter beds as a result of
topography, landscape position, and proximity to surface
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
drainage, water sources, and other limiting surface character-
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and
istics (structures, utilities, property lines). If no areas at a site
Subsurface Characterization.
comply with applicable regulatory requirements, no additional
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1995. Published February 1996.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09. field investigations are required. This procedure also provides
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
D5879–95
guidance on selection of the specific area or areas at a site for does not address the use of surveying equipment for such
subsurface investigation as covered in Practice D 5921. purposes.
7. Procedure
5. Significance and Use
7.1 Preliminary Documentation—All readily available in-
5.1 This practice should be used as the initial step for
formation about the site should be obtained and reviewed prior
evaluating a site for its potential to support an on-site septic
to visiting the site.
system and to determine the best location for subsurface
7.1.1 A survey showing the boundaries of the site is the
observations as covered in Practice D 5921.
preferred method for locating the site because it can also serve
5.2 This practice should be used by individuals involved
as a base map for field observations. A legal description of the
with the evaluation of properties for the use of on-site septic
property can also be used to plot the site on other available
systems. Such individuals may be required to be licensed,
maps or for drawing a sketch map of the site. A topographic
certified, or meet minimum educational requirements by the
survey with contour intervals of 1 to 5 ft will facilitate
local or state regulatory authority. Generally, such individuals
preliminary identification of potentially suitable field areas and
should be familiar with the appropriate regulatory requirements
final map preparation. Usually, such maps will not be available
governing the design and placement of on-site septic systems
unless the site is part of a larger planned subdivision.
for the area of the site being investigated, and at least some
7.1.2 The following information concerning local or state
experience or training in geomorphology, soils, geology, and
regulatory on-site septic system siting requirements should be
hydrology.
available for field reference, if required:
5.3 This practice is one step in the design of an on-site
7.1.2.1 Minimum separation distance between soil absorp-
septic system that also includes subsurface characterization,
tion or constructed filter fields and water supply, property lines
see Practice D 5921, staking and protection of the soil absorp-
and other surface and subsurface features,
tion or constructed filter bed area, see Practice D 5925,
7.1.2.2 Wastewater hydraulic loading rates for different soil
selection of system type, and design of the system size and
texture, structure and other field observable soil properties,
configuration. Typically, the same individual will perform the
7.1.2.3 Selection criteria for alternative on-site septic sys-
surface and subsurface characterization of a site. Local regu-
tem designs (that is, depth to seasonal high water table, depth
lation and practice will determine whether the same individual
to limiting soil layer, slope, and so forth), and
is responsible for all steps in the process of locating and
7.1.2.4 Other site-specific features that may affect design of
designing an on-site septic system. Effective surface and
on-site septic systems, such as perimeter drain clearances, and
subsurface characterization of a site for on-site septic systems,
wastewater loading rates.
however, requires some knowledge of the following for the
7.1.3 If the site is undeveloped, the following information
county or state in which the site is located: (1) on-site septic
should be obtained, prior to visiting the site:
system types typically used for different soil conditions, and
7.1.3.1 Planned location and size of the house or commer-
(2) typical soil absorption/filter bed areas required for different
cial structure,
wastewater flow rates and areal soil wastewater loading rates.
7.1.3.2 Planned location of water well, if applicable, water
6. Field Equipment
lines, and other buried utilities, and
7.1.3.3 Information required for determining wastewater
6.1 In addition to equipment identified in Practice D 5925,
load rates and strength for septic system design (that is, number
additional equipment useful for site surface investigations
of bedrooms, number of full-time employee equivalents and
include the following:
shifts per day, biological/chemical oxygen demand). Practice
6.1.1 Clinometer or Hand Level, and a Surveyor’s or other
D 5925 addresses in more detail wastewater hydraulic loading
rod for slope measurements;
and strength considerations in sizing on-site septic systems.
6.1.2 Hammer, Stakes and Flagging, for marking probe or
7.1.4 A published soil survey prepared by the U.S. Natural
auger holes and the recommended field area. If an extendable
Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation
surveyor’s rod is used, a tripod for stabilizing the rod may also
Service) is the best single background reference on subsurface
be useful. Accurate measurement of distances requires a tape
conditions for an on-site septic system field investigation.
measure (30 m or 100 ft), although for many investigations
Plotting the site boundaries on the soil map and reviewing
pacing may be adequate for measuring approximate distances.
information in the soil survey report provide a preliminary
6.2 At some sites, surveying equipment may be required to
indication of climate, topography, geology, hydrology, and
determine more definitively suitability for an on-site septic
types of limiting soil condition
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.