1. How To Describe or Identify Water Levels Using Soil Morphology Prepared by Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist, Soil Scientist Wilkes University Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences Department 84 West South Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18766 http://www.water-research.net

2. How to determine the Height of the Seasonal High Water Table But first we must decide what we are really want to know and our application. Sewage Applications PA – Evidence of Redoximorphic Features Stormwater Applications – Evidence of Saturation These are the same ? No- Redoximorphic features indicates the zone is saturated and anaerobic and meet all the other requirements for the creation of these features.

3. Seasonal High Water Table Wastewater Application Presence of Redoximorphic Features Direct Observation Monitoring Modeling and Water Budget Analysis

4. Current Law: Pennsylvania Land-Based Disposal Presence of Redoximorphic Features Direct Observation This methodology requires the preparation of detailed soil morphological descriptions.

5. Current Law: Pennsylvania Land-Based Disposal Saturated Soil- Ponded Water Redoximorphic Features (m2p) Endosaturation – observed redoximorphic features (f2d to m2p) and direct observation of saturated condition. This means that the soil is saturated and anaerobic to create redoximorphic features at a depth of approximately 2 feet Because the redoximorphic features are more prominent it may be assumed that the soils is saturated and anaerobic for longer periods of time. Depth to Water Table Redoximorphic Features (f2f) 2 feet

6. Monitoring Devices Piezometer – Solid Pipe that is only open at the bottom or a discrete or very small interval Well – Is a solid pipe that is Perforated or slotted over an interval. Open at the bottom Open Over an Interval Measures the Piezometeric pressure at a discrete point Measures the Average Piezometeric Pressure over a larger Interval – Measures water table depth under Unconsolidated near horizontal flow

7. Monitoring Devices Direction of Groundwater Flow Lines of Equal Potential 100 ft 90 feet80 feet Groundwater Gradient = dh/dl = 10 feet/100 feet dh/dl = 0.10 ft/ft

8. Monitoring Devices Direction of Groundwater Flow Lines of Equal Potential 80 feet Groundwater Gradient (Use Piezometers)= dh/dl = (125 – 60)/100 dh/dl = - 0.65 ft/ft 105 80 60 Datum Material Saturated 60 feet 75 (100 feet) 120 feet 100 100 feet

9. Monitoring Devices Direction of Groundwater Flow Lines of Equal Potential 80 feet 100 feet Groundwater Gradient (Use Piezometers)= dh/dl = (120 ft -90feet)/50 feet dh/dl = 0.60 ft/ft Datum Material Saturated 120 feet (100 feet) 120 100 90 105 80

10. Monitoring Direct Observation Where is the Seasonal High Water Table? Based on the presence of Redoximorphic features (f1f) Depth to Water Table = 2 feet Based on Monitoring – SHWT was Only 1.5 feet below grade. What ? Why is it 0.5 feet higher? Possible Answer- The water is not Anaerobic from 1.5 to 2.0 feet Pore Water Anaerobic at > 2.0 feet 1.75 ft 2.0 ft

11. Methods of Determining Wetness Used by State Agencies MethodNumber Mottles (any color)13 Monitoring Only6 Mottles < 2 chroma6 Redoximorphic5 Soil Drainage Class1 Soil Color3 Soil Evaluation1 Compiled by: Dr. Mike Vepraskas, NC State University

12. Compare Four Methods Variegated Colors- May or may not be Redox related. SHWT at 1.0 feet Monitoring – One Year Monitoring – 1.75 feet Pennsylvania (Redoximorphic Features) SHWT at 2 feet North Carolina and Others (low chorma > 50% of matrix ) SHWT at 4 feet SHWT – Seasonal High Water Table. Redoximorphic Features (f2f) Depletions chorma > 2 For Land-Based Wastewater Disposal in PA – SHWT at 2 feet Redoximorphic Features (m2p) Depletions chorma < 2

13. This is Just the Tip of the Iceberg !!! There are a lot of other issues, such as: How does the lack of decomposable organic material limit the formation of redoximorphic features ? It is possible that the material is saturated and anaerobic, but this does not meet all conditions for formation of redoximorphic features. How long is the material saturated and anaerobic? The presence of redoximorphic features does not tell us how long the soil is saturated or anaerobic. Monitoring water level may suggest saturated conditions, but it is critical to understand hydrogeology, direction of groundwater flow (recharge, discharge, or Horizontal flow).

14. How To Describe or Identify Water Levels Using Soil Morphology Prepared by Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist, Soil Scientist Wilkes University Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences Department 84 West South Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18766 http://www.water-research.net