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Effect of Tile Drainage on Disposal of Septic Tank Effluent in Wet Soils
Author(s) -
Wilson S. A.,
Paeth R. C.,
Ronayne M. P.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1982.00472425001100030010x
Subject(s) - tile drainage , septic tank , drainage , environmental science , groundwater , effluent , drawdown (hydrology) , hydrology (agriculture) , soil water , environmental engineering , trench , tile , water quality , waste disposal , sewage , waste management , geology , geotechnical engineering , aquifer , engineering , soil science , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , biology , visual arts , art , ecology , chemistry
Abstract A field‐performance study was conducted to determine the feasibility of artificially draining wet soils to permit satisfactory operation of septic tank effluent disposal fields. Tile drains placed 1.2 and 1.8 m deep with 3‐ and 6‐m horizontal separations, respectively, around disposal fields were monitored during wet winter months. Ground‐water drawdown beneath septic tank disposal fields was measured and tile drainage water was analyzed for NO 3 ‐N, total coliform, and fecal coliform. Tile placed at either depth lowered ground water sufficiently to prevent saturated soil conditions in disposal fields. Vertical mean groundwater separation distances of as little as 23 cm below disposal trench bottoms with a horizontal setback of 3 m between the tile drain and disposal field resulted in acceptable quality for drainage water discharges based on Oregon Department of Environmental Quality standards. Results indicated that design specifications were a practical means of overcoming wetness limitations for onsite sewage disposal on drainable soils in western Oregon.