Soil Percolation Test Procedure (EWB internship)

This is a soil percolation and infiltration rate test procedure that I’ve research and developed for my internship project.

 

Testing Procedures

Soil percolation test

• Procedure
  • Drill at least three holes with a diameter of 15 to 20 cm and a depth of 91 to 274 cm,
  • Fill the holes with water,
  • Then measure for the amount of water decreases within a period of time,
  • Use the formula (Percolation = Amount of water (ml)Time taken (min)) to calculate for the percolation rate.
• Equipment
  • Something to dig with
  • Water
  • Timer
  • Measuring stick

• Standard for Effluent Percolation Rate (EPR)
  • Poor soakage – 10 litre/m2/day
  • Good soakage – 15 litre/m2/day

Soil infiltration test

• Procedure
  • Fill a 30 by 20 cm container with soil and pressure it to make it compact like the ground
  • Cut a 5 inch (127mm) PVC pipe into a 20 cm piece and make a 5 cm, a 10 cm, and a 15 cm mark on the inside of the pipe
  • Then vertically bury 5 cm of the PVC pipe into the soil in the container
  • Pour water into the buried PVC pipe then start the timer
  • Then record the time when the water reaches each mark
• Equipment/materials
  • 5 inch PVC pipe
  • 30 x 20 cm container
  • Soil
  • Water
  • Timer
  • Notebook & Pen
  • Marker
• Source
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsEYs3YfkKE

Water flowing through the filtration

• Procedure
  • Start the timer when the first drop of water get to the filter in the second pit
  • Stop the timer when the water comes out of the PVC pipe into the leach field

• Equipment
  • Timer
  • Notebook & Pen