On-site wastewater

Soils play an important role in protecting groundwater and surface water. For on-site waste water disposal in Pennsylvania, alternate systems allow lots with limiting zones less than 20 inches from the soil surface to be used.  The suitability of a lot and the design of the system are dependent upon the landscape and the physical and morphological properties of the soils.  A Qualified Soil Scientist is required when evaluating a property for use of a shallow limiting zone alternate system.

Flooding soils

In some municipalities zoning ordinances have been enacted to protect homeowners or potential homeowners from building or buying homes in areas that may be subject to flooding.  These flooding soils and wet soils areas are based on USDA NRCS Soil Survey delineations.  As a result of the natural variability of soils and the scale at which Soil Survey maps are made, the flooding soils and wet soils areas can sometimes be mapped more broadly than is warranted.  In many cases, a soils and landscape investigation may allow flooding soils and wet soils to be more accurately mapped allowing your project to move forward.

Contact us to see how we can help with your residential soil project.

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