Evaluation of Water Table Dynamics in Relation to Soil Morphological Indicators of Seasonal Wetness
Journal Title: Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology - Year 2012, Vol 2, Issue 4
Abstract
Soil morphological features such as low chroma (2 or less) soil colors are used as indicators of the seasonal high water table (SHWT) for onsite wastewater system (OWS) design in North Carolina and many other states. OWS drainfield trenches are installed at least 30 cm above the low chroma colors to ensure aerobic conditions for wastewater treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of low chroma soil colors in predicting the depth of the SHWT for some common soil series in Pitt County, North Carolina. Monitoring wells with automated water level loggers were installed at 7 locations and programmed to record water levels every 0.5 hours during the typical wet season from December 2011 to May 2012. Soil profiles were described, including the depth to low chroma colors, during the installation of the monitoring wells. An automated rain gauge was used to record hourly precipitation. Rainfall and well hydrograph data were used with the weighted rainfall index interpretation method to determine the depth to SHWT. The depth to SHWT was compared to the depth of low chroma colors to assess accuracy. The depths to SHWT were on average 9 ± 26 cm greater than low chroma color depths. However, for 3 of 7 sites, the SHWT was closer to the surface than the low chroma colors. Also, the low chroma soil colors and SHWT depths varied by an absolute value of 20 ± 16 cm. The use of low chroma soil colors for OWS design in some soils may result in less than 30 cm of separation to the actual SHWT, possibly reducing OWS treatment efficiency.
Authors and Affiliations
Humphrey, C. P. , Harris, J. , and O'Driscoll, M. A.
Keywords
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