Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1002 - Water Quality Control Commission (1002 Series)
5 CCR 1002-43 - REGULATION NO. 43 - ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM REGULATION
Section 5 CCR 1002-43.5 - Site and Soil Evaluation

Universal Citation: 5 CO Code Regs 1002-43 ยง 5

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

A. A site and soil evaluation must be conducted for each property on which an OWTS is proposed, to determine the suitability of a location to support an OWTS, and to provide the designer a sound basis to select the most appropriate OWTS design for the location and application.

1. Each site evaluation must consist of:
a. Preliminary investigation;

b. Reconnaissance;

c. Detailed soil investigation; and

d. Report and site plan.

B. Preliminary investigation: Research of information relative to the site and anticipated conditions must be conducted. Information gathered as part of the preliminary investigation must include, but is not limited to:

1. Property Information:
a. Address;

b. Legal description;

c. Existing structures; and

d. Location of existing or proposed wells on the property.

2. Local public health agency records.

3. Published site information:
a. Topography; and

b. Soil data.

4. Location of physical features, on and off the property that will require setbacks as identified in Table 7-1.

5. Preliminary soil treatment area size estimate based on information on existing or planned facility and local regulations.

6. Other information required by local public health agency.

7. Additional information that may be useful to the specific evaluation as available:
a. Survey;

b. Easements;

c. Floodplain maps;

d. Geology and basin maps and descriptions;

e. Aerial photographs;

f. Climate information; and

g. Delineated wetlands maps.

C. Reconnaissance: A visit to the property to evaluate the topography and other surface conditions that will impact the location and design of the OWTS must be conducted. Information gathered as part of the site reconnaissance may include, but is not limited to:

1. Landscape position;

2. Topography;

3. Vegetation;

4. Natural and cultural features; and

5. Current and historic land use.

D. Detailed Soil Investigation

1. Soil investigations to determine the long-term acceptance rate of a soil treatment area must be conducted per the following criteria:
a. Visual and tactile evaluation of two or more soil profile test pit excavations must be conducted to determine soil type as well as to determine whether a limiting layer is encountered.

b. In addition to the two soil profile test pit excavations, percolation testing may be conducted to obtain additional information regarding the long-term acceptance rate of the soil.

c. If the site evaluation includes both a visual tactile evaluation of soil profile test pit excavations and percolation tests, and the results from these two evaluations do not coincide with the same LTAR as noted in Table 10-1, the designer must use the more restrictive LTAR in determining the size of the soil treatment area.

2. Procedure for performing visual and tactile evaluations of soil in order to determine a long-term acceptance rate:
a. Evaluation of two or more soil profile test pit excavations must be performed to determine soil types limiting layers, and best depth for the infiltrative surface. The total number of soil profile test pit excavations beyond the required two shall be based on the judgment of the competent technician.

b. At least one of the soil profile test pit excavations must be performed in the portion of the soil treatment area anticipated to have the most limiting conditions.

c. The minimum depth of the soil profile test pit excavation must be to any limiting layer, or four feet below the infiltrative surface of the in-situ soil, whichever is encountered first.

d. Layers and interfaces that interfere with the treatment and dispersal of effluent must be noted. Thus, any limiting soil characteristic such as consistence also needs to be evaluated. The evaluation of consistence may also include an evaluation of excavation difficulty, rupture resistance, and/or penetration resistance.

e. The soil observations must be conducted at or immediately adjacent to the location of the proposed soil treatment area, but if possible, not under the final location of a trench or bed.

f. Each soil profile test pit excavation observed at the proposed soil treatment area must be evaluated under adequate light conditions with the soil in an unfrozen state.

g. The soil observation method must allow observation of the different soil horizons that constitute the soil profile.

h. Soil profile test pit observations must be conducted prior to percolation tests to determine whether the soils are suitable to warrant percolation tests and, if suitable, at what depth percolation tests must be conducted.

i. The soil type at the proposed infiltrative surface of the soil treatment area or a more restrictive soil type within the treatment depth must be used to determine the long-term acceptance rate from Table 10-1 or Table 10-1A. The treatment depth is two to four feet depending on the required thickness for the treatment level below the infiltrative surface from Item 4, Table 7-2.

j. Soils data, previously collected by others at the site can be used for the purposes of an OWTS design at the discretion of the local public health agency. It is recommended that the data be verified, at a minimum, by performing an evaluation of a soil profile test pit excavation.

3. Soil descriptions for determination of a limiting layer must include:
a. The depth of each soil horizon measured from the ground surface and a description of the soil texture, and structure of each soil horizon;

b. Depth to the bedrock;

c. Depth to the periodically saturated soil as determined by:
(1) Redoximorphic features and other indicators of water levels, or

(2) Depth of standing water in the soil observation excavation, measured from the ground surface, if observed, unless redoximorphic features indicate a higher level.

4. Procedure for performing percolation tests:
a. The percolation testing shall be performed by a professional engineer or by a trained person under the supervision of a professional engineer or by a competent technician.

b. Number of test holes; Location
(1) Soil percolation tests shall be performed in at least three test holes in the area in which the soil treatment area is to be located, spaced evenly over the proposed area.

(2) If the likely depth of a proposed infiltrative surface is uncertain, percolation tests must be performed at more than one depth to determine the depth of the infiltrative surface.

c. Dimensions
(1) The percolation test hole must have a diameter of eight to 12 inches and be terminated a minimum of six inches and a maximum of 18 inches below the proposed infiltrative surface.

d. Change in Soil
(1) If a change of soil type, color or structure is present within those soils comprising the depth of soil below the infiltrative surface as required in Table 7-2 for vertical separation, a minimum of two soil percolation holes must be terminated in the changed soil, and percolation tests must be conducted in both holes.

e. Percolation Tests
(1) The percolation tests must be conducted using the hole preparation, soil saturation and rate measurement procedures described below.

(2) Preparation of Percolation Test Holes
(i) Excavate the hole to the depth and diameter required.

(ii) Carefully scrape the bottom and sides of the hole with a knife blade or sharp instrument to remove any smeared soil surfaces and provide a natural soil interface into which water may percolate.

(iii) Remove all loose soil from the hole.

(iv) Add two inches of very coarse sand or fine gravel to protect the bottom of the hole from scouring and sediment.

(3) Presoak
(i) The hole must be presoaked adequately to accomplish both saturation, which is filling the void spaces between the soil particles, and swelling, which is the intrusion of water into the individual soil particles.

(ii) To presoak the hole, carefully fill the hole with clean water to a minimum depth of 12 inches over the gravel placed in the bottom of the hole. In most soils, it is necessary to refill the hole by supplying a surplus reservoir of clean water, possibly by means of an automatic siphon, to maintain water in the hole for at least four hours and preferably over night. Determine the percolation rate 24 hours after water is first added to the hole. This procedure is to ensure that the soil is given ample time to swell and to approach the condition it will be in during the wettest season of the year. In sandy soils containing five percent or less particles passing the #200 sieve, by weight, the swelling procedure is not essential and the test may be conducted after the water from one filling of the hole has completely seeped out of the hole.

(4) Percolation Rate Measurement
(i) With the exception of sandy soils containing five percent or less particles passing the #200 sieve, by weight, percolation rate measurements must be made on the day following the presoak procedure.

(ii) If water remains in the percolation test hole after the swelling period, adjust the depth to approximately six inches above the gravel in the bottom of the hole. From a fixed reference point, measure the drop in water level over a 30 minute interval. The drops are used to calculate the percolation rate.

(iii) If no water remains in the hole after the swelling period, carefully add clean water to bring the depth of water in the hole to approximately six inches above the top of the gravel in the bottom of the hole. From a fixed reference point, measure the drop in water level at 30 minute intervals for four hours, refilling to six inches over the top of the gravel as necessary. The drop in water level that occurs during the final 30-minute period is used to calculate the percolation rate. If the water level drops during prior periods provide sufficient information, the procedure may be modified to suit local circumstances. The requirement to conduct a four hour test under this section is waived if three successive water-level drops do not vary by more than 1/16 inch; however, in no case shall a test under this section be less than two hours in duration.

(5) Sandy Soils
(i) In sandy soils or other soils in which the first six inches of water seeps out of the hole in less than 30 minutes, after the 24 hour swelling period, the time interval between measurements must be ten minutes and the test conducted for one hour. The drop that occurs during the final ten minutes must be used to calculate the percolation rate.

(ii) If the soil is so sandy or coarse-textured that it will not retain any water, then the infiltration rate must be recorded as less than one minute per inch.

(6) Special Soil Types
(i) A local public health agency may identify soil types in its area for which different procedures such as extra presoaking or an extended testing time to obtain a valid percolation rate will be required.

(7) Percolation Rate Determination and Reporting
(i) The field percolation rate will be the average rate of the percolation rates determined for all percolation test holes observed in the proposed soil treatment area in minutes per inch. The average percolation rate determined by the tests must be used in determining the long-term acceptance rate for the proposed system from Table 10-1.

(ii) The technician performing the percolation tests shall furnish an accurate scale drawing, showing the location of the soil profile test pit excavations and/or percolation holes tied to lot corners or other permanent objects. The drawing must meet the criteria in section 43.5.F.1.g . The information in the subsections following section 43.5.F.1.g .1 through 43.5.F.1.g.5 may be included but is not required for this drawing. All holes must be clearly labeled to relate to the information provided for the profile test pits and percolation tests.

(8) Alternate Percolation Testing
(i) Alternate percolation test procedures may be approved, provided the test results of alternate procedures are substantially equivalent to those determined using the test procedures described in this section.

(ii) Prior approval from the local public health agency of alternate percolation test procedures is required.

E. Marking of Soil Profile Test Pit Excavations or Percolation Holes

1. The engineer or technician conducting the soil profile test pit excavations or percolation tests must, upon completion of the tests, flag or otherwise mark each excavation or hole to allow easy location by others. Soil profile test pit excavations and percolation holes must remain open until after evaluation by the local public health agency, if required by the agency. Excavations must be suitably barricaded to prevent unauthorized access and to address safety concerns.

F. Report and Site Plan

1. A written report must describe the results of the preliminary investigation, reconnaissance, and detailed evaluations. The report may be in text and/or tabular form and must include a drawing locating features relative to the proposed OWTS location and test locations. The report may be included as part of the OWTS design document. The report must include, but is not limited to:
a. Company name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and name of individual, credentials and qualifications of the individual conducting the site evaluation;

b. Preliminary and detailed evaluations, providing information from the surface site characteristics assessment and soils investigation;

c. Dates of preliminary and detailed evaluations;

d. A graphic soil log, to scale, indicating depth of the soil test pit excavation, soil description and classification, depth to any limiting layer encountered, type of equipment used to excavate the soil profile test pit and date of soils investigation.

e. Setback distances to features listed in Table 7-1;

f. Setback distances to features listed in Table 7-2, existing on the site or within applicable setback limits, whichever is greater;

g. A drawing created to a scale that provides the complete property boundary lines. The minimum drawing size is 8.5-inches by 11-inches. If the property is too large to adequately indicate and label the profile test pits and percolation test holes, a detail of the portion of the site containing the soil profile test pits and percolation test holes must be submitted. If the property is too large to adequately show site evaluation information, a detail drawing that includes the information required from the site and soil evaluation that will impact the location of the OWTS must be submitted. Drawings must indicate dimensions, have a north arrow and graphic scale and include:
(1) Fixed, non-degradable temporary or permanent benchmark, horizontal and vertical reference points of the proposed soil treatment area; soil observations; percolation testing results and pertinent distances from the proposed OWTS to all required setbacks, lot improvements, easements; ordinary high water mark of a pond, creek, stream, lake, wetland or other surface waters, and detention or retention ponds; and property lines;

(2) Contours or slope direction and percent slope;

(3) The location of any visible or known unsuitable, disturbed or compacted soils;

(4) The estimated depth of periodically saturated soils and bedrock, or flood elevation, if applicable; and

(5) The proposed elevation of the infiltrative surface of the soil treatment area, from an established datum (either ground surface or a benchmark);

h. Anticipated construction-related issues, if applicable;

i. An assessment of how known or reasonably foreseeable land use changes are expected to affect the system performance, including, but not limited to, changes in drainage patterns, increased impervious surfaces and proximity of new water supply wells, if applicable; and

j. A narrative explaining difficulties encountered during the site evaluation, including but not limited to identifying and interpreting soil and landform features and how the difficulties were resolved, if applicable.

G. Design Document

1. The report and site plan may be attached to the design document or the report and site plan may be combined with the design information as a single document.

2. The design document must include a brief description of the facility and its proposed use, basis and calculations of design flow, and influent strength.

3. The design document must contain all plan details necessary for permitting, installation and maintenance, including:
a. Assumptions and calculations for each component, including total dynamic head (TDH) and gallons per minute (GPM) for all dosing systems;

b. A fixed, non-degradable temporary or permanent benchmark, (North America Vertical Datum or assumed elevation is acceptable);

c. A scale drawing showing location of each OWTS component and distances to water supplies, surface water, physical and health impact features on both the subject and adjacent properties requiring setbacks;

d. Layout of soil treatment area, dimensions of trenches or beds, distribution method and equipment, distribution boxes, drop boxes, valves, or other components used;

e. Elevation or depth of infiltrative surface of the soil treatment area, the septic tank invert, and all other components of the OWTS;

f. Special structural design considerations, as applicable to ensure the long-term integrity of each component;

g. References to design manuals or other technical materials used;

h. Installation procedures, as applicable;

i. Operation and maintenance manuals or instructions; and

j. Other information that may be useful such as photos and cross-section drawings.

H. Site protection: Prior to and during construction, the proposed soil treatment area and replacement area, if any, must be protected from disturbance, compaction, or other damage by means of staking, fencing, posting, or other effective methods.

I. Qualifications for a Competent Technician

1. Percolation Tests
a. Competencies needed:
(1) Set up equipment;

(2) Perform and run percolation tests according to the procedure in this regulation; and

(3) Record results and calculate percolation rates.

b. Local public health agencies may approve training for percolation testing.

2. Visual and Tactile Evaluation of Soil
a. Competencies needed:
(1) Identify soil types by hand texturing and observation;

(2) Identify presence or absence of soil structure;

(3) Identify type and grade of soil structure;

(4) Recognize evidence of highest seasonal water surface;

(5) Identify layers and interfaces that will interfere with effluent movement;

(6) Determine the most promising depth for infiltrative surface of OWTS and for percolation tests, if used; and

(7) Understand basic principles of OWTS siting and design.

b. Possible demonstrations of competence in visual and tactile evaluation of soil:
(1) Degree in soil science, agronomy, geology, other majors if a course(s) in soil morphology was included; or

(2) Attendance at training or workshop for soil evaluation for OWTS including both class and field work.
(i) If the training or workshop includes an exam to verify acceptable completion of the course, a passing grade on the exam must be attained.

c. The Division must approve training for visual and tactile evaluation of soil.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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