Black Bear Crossing, Maurertown, Virginia Soil Evaluation for Septic System Location

Black Bear Crossing, Maurertown, Virginia Soil Evaluation for Septic System Location

A North Fork of the Shenandoah River front lot with steep slopes and rocky terrain presented a challenge to find a septic system site for this Shenandoah County property. While working around the buyer’s objectives (driveway, house, garage & terraces) an area at the foot slope of the property had area to potentially accommodate an alternative septic system. However, Shenandoah County, VA floodplain regulations require that no drainfield will be located closer than 50 feet to the river. Additionally, a minimum separation of 24″ from the bottom of a drainfield trench to water table is required. A recirculating sand filter or intermittent sand filter and pretreatment unit is required following these standards.  The soil profiles evaluated had deep colluvial loam with gravels down to 60″. With the area available, and proximity to the river an AOSE septic site was located that met the required standoffs and was outside the annual floodplain. The area is likely to be within the 100 year floodplain, which is acceptable if there is no other area available on the property. In this case, the remainder of the lot was either in annual floodplain or had slopes greater than 50 percent. The alternative  septic system chosen for this lot is a subsurface Advanced Enviro System – Presby as it will be below the surface grade and treatment units can be above the floodplain....

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