ASTM D5879-95(2003)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Surface Site Characterization for On-Site Septic Systems
Standard Practice for Surface Site Characterization for On-Site Septic Systems
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice should be used as the initial step for evaluating a site for its potential to support an on-site septic system and to determine the best location for subsurface observations as covered in Practice D 5921.
This practice should be used by individuals involved with the evaluation of properties for the use of on-site septic systems. Such individuals may be required to be licensed, certified, or meet minimum educational requirements by the local or state regulatory authority. Generally, such individuals should be familiar with the appropriate regulatory requirements governing the design and placement of on-site septic systems for the area of the site being investigated, and at least some experience or training in geomorphology, soils, geology, and hydrology.3
This practice is one step in the design of an on-site septic system that also includes subsurface characterization, see Practice D 5921, staking and protection of the soil absorption or constructed filter bed area, see Practice D 5925, selection of system type, and design of the system size and configuration. Typically, the same individual will perform the surface and subsurface characterization of a site. Local regulation and practice will determine whether the same individual is responsible for all steps in the process of locating and designing an on-site septic system. Effective surface and subsurface characterization of a site for on-site septic systems, however, requires some knowledge of the following for the county or state in which the site is located: (1) on-site septic system types typically used for different soil conditions, and (2) typical soil absorption/filter bed areas required for different wastewater flow rates and areal soil wastewater loading rates.
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 D 5921 and D 5925.
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D5879–95 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Practice for
Surface Site Characterization for On-Site Septic Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5879; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers procedures for the characterization 3.1 clinometer, n—an instrument for measuring inclination,
of surface conditions at a site for evaluating suitability for an as in topographic slope.
on-site septic system for disposal and treatment of wastewater. 3.2 constructed filter bed, n—a material, usually of a sandy
This practice provides a method for identifying potentially texture, placed above or in an excavated portion of the natural
suitable areas for soil absorption of septic tank wastewater. soil for filtration and purification of wastewater from an on-site
1.2 This practice can be used at any site where on-site septic system.
treatment of residential and nonhazardous commercial waste- 3.3 on-site septic system, n—any wastewater treatment and
waters using septic tanks and natural soils or constructed filter disposal system that uses a septic tank or functionally equiva-
beds is required or an option under consideration.This practice lent device for collecting waste solids and treats wastewater
may also be useful when constructed wetlands are used as an using natural soils, or constructed filter beds with disposal of
alternative wastewater treatment method. the treated wastewater into the natural soil.
1.3 This practice should be used in conjunction with Prac- 3.4 potentially suitable field area, n—the portions of a site
tices D5921 and D5925D5921D5925. that remain after observable limiting surface features, such as
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing excessive slope, unsuitable landscape position, proximity to
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace water supplies, and applicable setbacks, have been excluded.
education or experience and should be used in conjunction 3.5 recommended field area, n—the portion of the poten-
withprofessionaljudgment.Notallaspectsofthispracticemay tially suitable field area at a site that has been determined to be
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not most suitable for an on-site septic system soil absorption field
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which or filter bed based on surface and subsurface observations.
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, 3.6 soil absorption area, n—an area of natural soil used for
nor should this document be applied without consideration of filtration and purification of wastewater from an on-site septic
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the system.
title of this document means only that the document has been 3.7 soil absorption field area, n—an area that includes soil
approved through the ASTM consensus process. absorption trenches and any soil barriers between the trenches.
Also called a leachfield.
2. Referenced Documents
3.8 soil absorption trench, n—an excavated trench, usually
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.5 to 3 ft wide that receives wastewater for treatment. Also
D5921 Practice for Subsurface Site Characterization ofTest called a lateral or leachline.
Pits for On-Site Septic Systems
4. Summary of Practice
D5925 Practice for Preliminary Sizing and Delineation of
Soil Absorption Field Areas for On-Site Septic Systems 4.1 This practice describes a procedure using existing infor-
mation about a site, simple field equipment, and visual obser-
vation for identifying and evaluating all significant conditions
at the surface of a site, including climate, vegetation, topogra-
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and phy, surface drainage, water sources, and human influences
Subsurface Characterization.
(structures, property lines), that may affect the suitability for
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1995. Published February 1996. DOI:
design and construction of an on-site septic system. The
10.1520/D5879-95R03.
procedure involves exclusion of areas that are unsuitable for
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
natural soil absorption or constructed filter beds as a result of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
topography, landscape position, and proximity to surface
the ASTM website.
drainage, water sources, and other limiting surface character-
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
on www.astm.org. istics (structures, utilities, property lines). If no areas at a site
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5879–95 (2003)
comply with applicable regulatory requirements, no additional sites where accurate topographic contours are required for
field investigations are required. This procedure also provides engineering design of constructed filter beds. This practice
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 D5921. purposes.
5. Significance and Use
7. Procedure
5.1 This practice should be used as the initial step for
7.1 Preliminary Documentation—All readily available in-
evaluating a site for its potential to support an on-site septic
formation about the site should be obtained and reviewed prior
system and to determine the best location for subsurface
to visiting the site.
observations as covered in Practice D5921.
7.1.1 A survey showing the boundaries of the site is the
5.2 This practice should be used by individuals involved
preferred method for locating the site because it can also serve
with the evaluation of properties for the use of on-site septic
as a base map for field observations.Alegal description of the
systems. Such individuals may be required to be licensed,
property can also be used to plot the site on other available
certified, or meet minimum educational requirements by the
maps or for drawing a sketch map of the site. A topographic
local or state regulatory authority. Generally, such individuals
survey with contour intervals of 1 to 5 ft will facilitate
shouldbefamiliarwiththeappropriateregulatoryrequirements
preliminary identification of potentially suitable field areas and
governing the design and placement of on-site septic systems
final map preparation. Usually, such maps will not be available
for the area of the site being investigated, and at least some
unless the site is part of a larger planned subdivision.
experience or training in geomorphology, soils, geology, and
7.1.2 The following information concerning local or state
hydrology.
regulatory on-site septic system siting requirements should be
5.3 This practice is one step in the design of an on-site
available for field reference, if required:
septic system that also includes subsurface characterization,
7.1.2.1 Minimum separation distance between soil absorp-
see Practice D5921, staking and protection of the soil absorp-
tion or constructed filter fields and water supply, property lines
tion or constructed filter bed area, see Practice D5925, selec-
and other surface and subsurface features,
tion of system type, and design of the system size and
7.1.2.2 Wastewater hydraulic loading rates for different soil
configuration. Typically, the same individual will perform the
texture, structure and other field observable soil properties,
surface and subsurface characterization of a site. Local regu-
7.1.2.3 Selection criteria for alternative on-site septic sys-
lation and practice will determine whether the same individual
tem designs (that is, depth to seasonal high water table, depth
is responsible for all steps in the process of locating and
to limiting soil layer, slope, and so forth), and
designing an on-site septic system. Effective surface and
7.1.2.4 Other site-specific features that may affect design of
subsurface characterization of a site for on-site septic systems,
on-site septic systems, such as perimeter drain clearances, and
however, requires some knowledge of the following for the
wastewater loading rates.
county or state in which the site is located: (1) on-site septic
7.1.3 If the site is undeveloped, the following information
system types typically used for different soil conditions, and
should be obtained, prior to visiting the site:
(2) typical soil absorption/filter bed areas required for different
7.1.3.1 Planned location and size of the house or commer-
wastewater flow rates and areal soil wastewater loading rates.
cial structure,
7.1.3.2 Planned location of water well, if applicable, water
6. Field Equipment
lines, and other buried utilities, and
6.1 In addition to equipment identified in Practice D5925,
7.1.3.3 Information required for determining wastewater
additional equipment useful for site surface investigations loadratesandstrengthforsepticsystemdesign(thatis,number
include the following:
of bedrooms, number of full-time employee equivalents and
6.1.1 Clinometer or Hand Level, and a Surveyor’s or other shifts per day, biological/chemical oxygen demand). Practice
rod for slope measurements;
D5925 addresses in more detail wastewater hydraulic loading
6.1.2 Hammer, Stakes and Flagging, for marking probe or and strength considerations in sizing on-site septic systems.
auger holes and the recommended field area. If an extendable
7.1.4 A published soil survey prepared by the U.S. Natural
surveyor’s rod is used, a tripod for stabilizing the rod may also
Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation
be useful. Accurate measurement of distances requires a tape
Service) is the best single background reference on subsurface
measure (30 m or 100 ft), although for many investigations
conditions for an on-site septic system field investigation.
pacing may be adequate for
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.