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April 14, 2004
DIRT POOR Engineered system now Nevada lawPERC TESTS NOT THE ONLY NEW REQUIREMENT FOR SEPTIC TANKS
By MARK WAITE
Ron Williams, director of the Nye County Planning Department, said revisions of the International Building Code would soon require contractors to verify the soil is adequate for installing septic systems, much like they are required to test for the home's foundation. Nye County is mandated to have an ordinance in place requiring engineers to certify percolation tests on septic tank installations before the next State Board of Health meeting June 25. A study of soil conditions was also required. Nye County Commissioners held a workshop Thursday to discuss the results of a geo-technical report presented by Ninyo and Moore Consultants. The company was hired and paid $229,000 to study the soil conditions in Pahrump Valley as part of the master plan. Ninyo and Moore sank 100 borings. Lab tests showed in the lower elevation areas, mainly the southwestern part of the valley, that 54 percent of the soil sampled had a moderate to high potential for expansion when wet. The study recommends site-specific geo-technical design evaluations for future development in Pahrump. It also suggests a strengthening of the Nevada Administrative Code on construction of new septic systems. "Ninyo and Moore's requirements in the report will really improve geo-technical evaluations alone in Pahrump in the future and reduce problems with hydro-collapsible soils and expansive soils," company engineer Bruce Bowman concluded. "It is definitely my opinion that more extensive soil studies need to be done from here on out in the valley." Talbert said the conclusion was that a geo-technical examination on the building site for soil conditions was needed, one that could be stamped by a registered geo-technical professional. Jim Talbert, project planning director for Tri-Core Engineering, the company developing the master plan, suggested county commissioners not only pass the percolation-test ordinance but also vote to accept the Ninyo and Moore report. Geologist John Doyle suggested the soil study include information on earthquake faults and fissures; Talbert said the study recommends a 1,000-foot buffer between homes and known fissures. Doyle added his opinion that the same engineer that inspects the land for the foundation should be verifying the leech field for the septic system. The reading from the percolation test could give the septic tank installer some idea how to design the system, Bowman said, like what size septic tank to build and the length of the leech line. "These recommendations we're providing are very similar to other developed and developing areas in the Southwest," Bowman said. Commissioner Candice Trummell said a lot of contractors have experience performing percolation tests. Bowman admitted, "Just because you're a registered engineer doesn't mean you know how to do a perc test." While Trummell said surveyors and architects could have experience with percolation tests, Doyle said geo-technical firms typically do the job. "What that stamp does, " he said, "is that it transfers liability to that engineer. He takes responsibility for that design based on his recommendations and his experience." Trummell was apparently still puzzled why the builder had to pay for a specialist to perform a percolation test. "I was wondering why experienced contractors couldn't be included in that scope," she said. Craig Stowell, senior engineer for the Nye County Public Works Department, said architects in Nevada might be qualified across various disciplines. But he said, "I for one have never done a perc test, but I've done sewage lagoons." Nye County Commission Chairman Henry Neth said he's been "struggling immensely" with the state's requirement for an engineer-certified percolation test. "What it comes down to is how long we're going to be dictated to," Neth said. Williams didn't think it was a big imposition; builders need a site development plan. "You're going to have to have an engineer on the site anyway according to the International Building Code," he said. Williams said Senior Building Inspector Brett Steed has seen questionable percolation tests. But Steed told Commissioner Neth his department hasn't kept a database on area percolation tests. Norma Crooks, a member of the Nye County Citizens Involved in Responsible Government, questioned why county leaders continue to fight the State Board of Health on this issue. "The reason they came down hard on Nye County was we presented evidence that the county was not overseeing perc tests, period," Crooks said. While Nye County CIRG has claimed there have been dozens of septic tank failures in Pahrump, builders maintain a state inspection of 89 reported septic failures showed only one system failed under the supervision of the Pahrump Building and Safety Department. Crooks called those "drive-by inspections." Septic tank installer Butch Borasky was disappointed he didn't get a straight answer to his question on what to do about hydro-collapsible areas on Dandelion Street. Bowman said the study was conducted to come up with recommendations for future development. "It wasn't in the scope of our study to evaluate an area that was already developed," Bowman said. A geo-technical report would be needed to determine if a homeowner could build in that area, Talbert said. "The problem is more with faults and fissures than it is with hydro collapsible soils," he said. "I thought we were going to get it in English that if you're going to build in that area this is what you have to do to avoid a septic failure," Borasky said. While he favored engineered percolation tests, which he estimated would probably cost around $200, Borasky added, "They'd better know more than I do or I'll tell them to hit the road." Neth said even if the state takes back the inspection of new septic tanks in Pahrump Valley, they would still require engineer-certified percolation tests. "As a builder we want to see it corrected. We don't want to see Band-Aids on the problem," said Karen Spalding, representing Spalding Construction. She said she wanted to be certain that if they perform the engineered percolation test - and have a septic system designed accordingly - the problem would be solved. |
