Section 385.20. Soil evaluations.

 

(1)   General.

(a) Soil boring methods and procedures shall comply with this section.

(b) Maximum soil application rates shall be determined relative to the soil texture, structure and consistence for each soil horizon or layer.

(2)   Number, type and depth of evaluations.

(a) General. The number, type, depth and location of soil profile evaluations shall be sufficient to delineate the area under investigation and to assure consistency of the data within that area.

(b) Number and area.

1.

a. Except as provided in subd. 1. d. and subd. 2. , a minimum of 3 soil profile evaluation excavations shall be used to delineate a site within which POWTS treatment or dispersal components consisting in part of in situ soil are to be located.

b. For estimated daily flows of 1,000 gallons per day or less, at least one soil profile evaluation excavation per treatment or dispersal site shall be constructed as a soil pit, and described in accordance with s. SPS 385.30 (1) (c) .

c. For estimated daily flows greater than 1,000 gallons per day, at least 3 soil profile evaluations per treatment or dispersal site shall be constructed as soil pits, and described in accordance with s. SPS 385.30 (1) (c) .

d. The department or governmental unit may require additional soil profile evaluation excavations to be constructed where soil variability considerations may not be adequately addressed. The department or governmental unit may specify that soil profile descriptions in accordance with s. SPS 385.30 (1) (c) be conducted for any additional soil profile evaluation excavations.

2. At least one soil pit or soil boring shall be used to establish soil suitability for a pit privy.

(c) Type.

1. Soil profile evaluations used to determine soil application rates shall be conducted using soil pits.

2. Soil profile evaluations used to determine or identify soil horizon depths, soil color, soil texture, redoximorphic feature colors or depth to groundwater or bedrock shall be conducted using either soil pits or soil borings.

(d) Depth. Soil profile evaluations shall extend an adequate depth below the land surface to identify soil properties critical to soil treatment or dispersal of wastewater, treated wastewater, final effluent or nonwater-carried human waste.

(3)   Excavation methods.

(a) Soil profile excavations. A soil profile excavation shall be of such size and construction to allow accurate determination of soil characteristics.

(b) Soil borings.

1. Soil borings shall be created by means of a soil bucket auger, soil probe, split-spoon sampler or Shelby tube having at least a 2 inch diameter.

2. A soil boring may not be created by means of a power auger.

(c) Soil pits. A soil pit shall be of adequate size, depth and construction to enable a person to safely enter and exit the pit and to complete a morphological soil profile description.

(4)   Soil evaluation conditions.

(a) Soil color evaluations shall be performed on days when light conditions permit accurate color determinations.

(b) Frozen soil material shall be thawed prior to conducting evaluations for soil color, texture, structure and consistence.

Cr. Register, April, 2000, No. 532 , eff. 7-1-00; correction in (2) (b) 1. b., c., d. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 .

Note

Section SPS 383.44 establishes maximum soil application rates and soil treatment capability for the design of POWTS treatment or dispersal components consisting in part of in situ soil. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Sections SPS 383.44 (3) and 391.12 (1) (b) 1. contain further information regarding privy siting and soil requirements. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Occupational safety and health administration regulations ( 29 CFR 1926 , Subpart P) apply to certain types of excavations, and the persons entering such excavations need to be familiar with those regulations. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1