Soils, Infiltration, and On-site Testing

Presented by:
Mr. Brian Oram, PG, PASEO Wilkes University GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department Wilkes - Barre, PA 18766 570-408-4619 http://www.water-research.net

Soils Defined
Natural Body that Occurs on the Land Surface that are Characterized by One or More of the Following:
Consists of Distinct Horizons or Layers The ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment Upper Limit is Air or Shallow Water Lower Limit is Bedrock or Limit of Biological Activity Classification based on a typical depth of 2 m or approximately 6.0 feet

Another Definition of Soils

A Natural 3 - Dimensional Body at the Earth Surface Capable of Supporting Plants Properties are the Result of Parent Material, Climate, Living Matter, Landscape Position and Time. Soil Composed of 4 Components (mineral matter, organic matter, air, and water)

Five Soil Formation Factors

Organisms Climate Time Topography and Landscape Setting Parent Material
R

Soil Food Web - Organisms

Micro & Macroscopic Decomposition of Organic Matter Animals Living in Soil Vegetation Types Human Activity Redoximorphic Feature Formation

Image Source: The University of Minnesota, 2003

Climatic Elements (Energy & Precipitation)

Annual and Seasonal Rainfall Temperature Range Biologic Production and Activity Weathering (Wind, Water, and Ice) Translocation of Material

Climate and Soil Development

Image Source: University of Wisconsin, 2002

Geologic Time

Time

Landscape and Relief (Soil Texture)

A- Sandy Texture and Loamy Sand B- Sandy Textures C- Clay Loam, Loam, Silt Loam

Image Source: University of Wisconsin, 2002

Landscape and Relief (Drainage)

Water Movement Soil Drainage Landscape Configuration (Convex, Concave) Elevation Water Movement

Image Source: NJ NRCS, 2002

Parent Material
Geological Materials Minerals and Rocks Glacial Materials Loess (wind blown) Alluvial Deposits Marine Deposits Organic Deposits Influences Minerals Present Colors Chemical Reactions Water Movement Soil Development

Glacial Material

Bedrock

Soil Horizons
Layer of Soil Parallel to Surface Properties a function of climate, landscape setting, parent material, biological activity, and other soil forming processes. Horizons (A, E, B, C, R, etc)
Image Source: University of Texas, 2002

Soil Horizons O- Organic Horizons

O Horizon Organic Layers of Decaying Plant and Animal Tissue Aids Soil Structural Development Helps to Retain Moisture Enriches Soil with Nutrients Infiltration Capacity function of Organic Decomposition

Dark in Color Because of Humus Material - 1,000,000 bacteria per cm3

Soil Horizons A Horizons: Topsoil

A Horizon
Mineral Horizon Near Surface Accumulation of Organic Material Eluviation Process Moves Humic and Minerals from O Horizon into A horizon Ap - Plowed A Horizon Ab - Buried Horizon Soil dark in color, coarser in texture, and high porosity

Soil Horizons: E Horizons Albic Horizon (Latin - White)

E Horizon
Mineral Horizon Near Surface Movement of Silicate Clay, Iron, and Aluminum from the A Horizon through Eluviation Horizon does not mean a water table is present, but the horizon can be associated with high water table , use Symbol Eg (gleyed modifier) Underlain by a B (illuvial) horizon

Soil Horizons: B Horizons Zone of Maximum Accumulation

Bhs Horizon
Mineral Horizon Illuviation is Occurring Movement into the Horizon B Horizon Receives Organic and Inorganic Materials from Upper Horizons. Color Influence by Organic, Iron, Aluminum, and Carbonates Bw - Weakly Colored or Structured Bhs- Accumulation of illuvial organic material and sesquioxides Bs- Accumulation of sesquioxides Bt- Translocation of silicate clay Bx- Fragipan Horizon, brittle

Bs Horizon
Bw Horizon

Soil Horizons: Bx and Bt Horizons

Horizons Indicate Reduced Infiltration Capacity and Permeability Bx: B horizon with fragipan, a compact, slowly permeable subsurface horizon that is brittle when moist and hard when dry. Prismatic soil structure, mineral coatings and high bulk density

Area of Highest Permeability along Prism Contact

Bt: Clay accumulation is indicated by finer soil textures and by clay coating peds and lining pores

C- Horizons
Distinguished by Color, Structure, and Deposition
Mineral Horizon or Layer, excluding Rock Little or No Soil-Forming May be Similar to Overlying Formation May be Called Parent Material Layer can be Gleyed Developed in Place or Deposited

R- Horizons
Hard, Consolidated Bedrock Typically Underlies a C Horizon, but could be directly below an A or B Horizon.

R Horizon

Soil Hydrologic Cycle

Source: Vepraskas, M.J, et. Al. Wetland Soils, 2001.

Soil Drainage Class and Soil Group

Soil Drainage Class - Refers to Frequency
and Duration of Periods of Saturation or Partial Saturation During Soil Formation. There are 7 Natural Soil Drainage Classes.

Hydrologic Soil Group-Refers to Soils

Runoff Producing Characteristics as used in the NRCS Curve Number Method. There area 4 Hydrologic Soil Groups (A, B, C, D).

Group A and B
Group A is sand, loamy sand or sandy loam types of soils. It has low runoff potential and high infiltration rates even when thoroughly wetted. Deep, well to excessively drained sands or gravels and have a high rate of water transmission. Root Limiting / Impermeable layers over 100 cm or 40 inches ***************** Group B is silt loam or loam. It has a moderate infiltration rate when thoroughly wetted. Moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with moderately fine to moderately coarse textures. Root Limiting / Impermeable e layers over 50 to 100 cm or 20 to 40 inches

Group A- Well Drained

Group C and D
Group C soils are sandy clay loam. They have low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes downward movement of water and soils with moderately fine to fine structure. Perched water table 100 to 150 cm or 40 to 60 inches; root limiting 20 to 40 inches. ***************** Group D soils are clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay or clay. They have very low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling potential, soils with a permanent high water table, soils with a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface and shallow soils over nearly impervious material ( < 20 inches).

Group D - Poorly Drained Highest Runoff Potential

Definitions
Infiltration - The downward entry of water into the immediate surface of soil or other materials. Infiltration Capacity- The maximum rate at which water can infiltrate into a soil under a given set of conditions. Infiltration Rate- The rate at which water penetrates the surface of the soil and expressed in cm/hr, mm/hr, or inches/hr. The rate of infiltration is limited by the capacity of the soil and rate at which water is applied to the surface. This is a volume flux of water flowing into the profile per unit of soil surface area (expressed as velocity). Percolation -Vertical and Lateral Movement of water through the soil by gravity.

Infiltration Rate and Capacity

Soil Factors that Control Infiltration Rate: - Vegetative Cover, Root Development and Organic Content - Moisture Content - Soil Texture and Structure - Porosity and Permeability - Soil Bulk Density and Compaction - Slope, Landscape Position, Topography

Infiltration Rate (Time Dependent)

Decreasing Infiltration Steady Gravity Induced Rate

Infiltration with Time Rate is Initially High Because of a Combination of Capillary and Gravity Forces

Final Infiltration Capacity (Equilibrium)- Infiltration Approaches Saturated Permeability

Infiltration Rate (Moisture)

Infiltration Decreases with Time 1) Changes in Surface and Subsurface Conditions 2) Change in Matrix Potential 3) Overtime - Matrix Potential Decreases and Gravity Forces Dominate - Causing a Reduction in the Infiltration Rate

Measuring Infiltration Rate

Flooding (ring) Infiltrometers
Single ring Double ring

Flooded Infiltrometers Tension Infiltrometers Rainfall-Runoff Plot Infiltrometers

Measuring Infiltration Rate

Single Rings Infiltrometers

Cylinder - 30 cm in Diameter Drive 5 cm or more into Soil Surface or Horizon Water is Ponded Above the Surface Record Volume of Water Added with Time to Maintain a Constant Head Measures a Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Flow

Double Rings Infiltrometers

Outer Rings are 6 to 24 inches in Diameter (ASTM - 12 to 24 inches) Mariotte Bottles Can be Used to Maintain Constant Head Rings Driven - 5 cm to 6 inches in the Soil and if necessary sealed

Other Infiltrometers

Ponded Infiltrometers Tension Infiltrometer Unsaturated Flow Of Water

Infiltration Rate by Soil Group/ Texture

Source: Texas Council of Governments, 2003.

Infiltration Rate Function of Slope & Texture

Source: Rainbird Corporation, derived from USDA Data

Infiltration Rate Function of Vegetation

Source: Gray, D., Principles of Hydrology, 1973.

Comparison Infiltration to Percolation Testing

4.5 4 3.5 Rate (in/hr) 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trail 7 8 9 10 Percolation Test Infiltraton Test

Percolation Testing Over Estimated Infiltration Rate by 40 to over 400%

Source: On-site Soils Testing Data, (Oram, B., 2003)

Infiltration and Rock Content (Oram, B. 2003)

20 18 16 14 Rate (in/hr) 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Infiltration Rock Content < 20 % Infiltration Rock Content > 60 %

Infiltration (Compaction/ Moisture Level)

Case 1 :Myers Proposed Development

Worcester Township, Pennsylvania
Abbottstown Silt Loam, Deep to Moderately Deep, Somewhat Poorly Drained Some Areas Shallow Depth to Firm Bedrock Signs of Erosion Low Surface and Near Surface Infiltration Rates Associated with Surface Smearing, Btx, Bx Horizons BC/ C /R Horizons Higher Infiltration Rate.

Readington Silt Loam Deep Moderately Well Drained Low Infiltration Surface, Bd, and Btx High Infiltration in C and R Horizons

Infiltration Rate Function of Horizon A, B, Btx, Bt, C, R C/R Testing - Areas Fractured Rock

Source: On-site Infiltration Testing - Mr. Brian Oram, PG (2003)

Case 2: Country View at Salford Salford Township, Montgomery County, PA

Soil CrB2 Croton Silt Loam Deep, Poorly Drained Diagnostic Features: Bx, Bxg, Bt, R (firm) Reported Infiltration Rate: < 0.2 to 2.0 in/hr Field Measured Rate: 0.1 to 0.52 in/hr Primary Natural Drainage: Depression Storage, Swale Development, Throughflow Flow Through Wetland Areas, Overland Flow Predevelopment Conditions: Unstable Stream Banks, Overland Flow from Off Site

Evaluation Infiltration
Step 1: Desktop Assessment - GIS Review Published Data Related to Soils, Geology, Hydrology Step 2: Characterize the Hydrological Setting Where are the Discharge and Recharge Zones? What forms of Natural Infiltration or Depression Storage Occurs? Step 3: On-Site Assessment Deep Soil Testing Throughout Site Based on Soils and Geological Data Double Ring Infiltration Testing How will water move through the site ? Step 4: Engineering Review and Evaluation Step 5: Additional Infiltration or On-site Testing Step 6: Final Design

Soils, Infiltration, and On-site Testing

Presented by:
Mr. Brian Oram, PG, PASEO Wilkes University GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department Wilkes - Barre, PA 18766 570-408-4619 http://www.water-research.net

Horton Equation (1939)

Infiltration is a Function of Time as defined by: f(t) = fc + (fo fc)e^-kt f(t) = infiltration rate for any time t from beginning of infiltration fc = infiltration capacity fo = initial infiltration rate at (t=0) e = 2.71 =base of natural log k is a measure of the rate of decrease in infiltration rate (constant that depends on soil type) Large Watershed Application - Replaced by Philip and Green-Ampt Horton Method Used in EPA Storm Water Management Model

Green-Ampt Equation
Green-Ampt model was the first physically-based model/equation describing the infiltration of water into soil. The model yields cumulative infiltration and the infiltration rate as an implicit function of time. The volume of infiltration was a function of:

Soil pores are saturated behind wetting front; Wetting front moves in response to capillary forces; and Darcys flow governs that headloss in the saturated zone. Approx. Equation: f = (A/F)+B; f = infiltration rate, F accumulative infiltration, and A and B are fitted parameters The Green-Ampt Model has been modified to calculate water infiltration into non-uniform soils by several researchers . In 1989, GALAYER was developed for heterogenous soils Models Available at: http://www.epa.gov/ada/csmos/ninflmod.html http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/soil_water/drainmod/dmversions.htm

Philip Equation (1960)

where: F = total depth of infiltrated water in mm. t = time in seconds K = hydraulic conductivity in mm/sec m = the average moisture content of the soil to the depth of the wetting front m--0 = initial soil moisture content - based on API calculation or input Pot = capillary potential at the wetting front in mm

Pot = 250 log (K) + 100

D1 = depth of water on the soil surface Takes into account the Ponding Head Models Available at: http://www.epa.gov/ada/csmos/ninflmod.html

Soils, Infiltration, and On-site Testing

Presented by:
Mr. Brian Oram, PG, PASEO Wilkes University GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department Wilkes - Barre, PA 18766 http://www.water-research.net