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D. GROUNDWATER INFORMATION <br /> Groundwater elevation measurements were taken by Mr. Curtis on February 13, 1999 and <br /> determined to be 7 ft. 06 in. from existing grade. The static water level in this test boring was <br /> measured again on February 16 and found to have risen to 6 ft. 04 in. below existing grade. On <br /> April 26, 1999, the backhoe test pit revealed the phreatic water or the zone of saturation to be at <br /> 10 feet below existing grade. Upon entering this zone, groundwater poured into the test pit as if <br /> under pressure. <br /> There are two explanations for these measurement discrepancies. First,the groundwater level <br /> measured in February may have been attributed to winter rainfall. Soil water, referred to as <br /> vadose water, may have been the contributing factor to this measured groundwater level. <br /> Secondly, from direct observation, the groundwater is under pressure probably due to the <br /> confining clay soil above the phreatic water. Once this zone of saturation was entered with the <br /> hand auger, the confining pressure caused the static water level to rise to the 6 ft. 04 in. <br /> measurement. <br /> To determine the possible nitrate impact from the subject leachfield, groundwater was sampled <br /> from two backhoe test pits. These test pits were excavated by the operator who installed the <br /> septic system, so he was familiar with the leachline location. One pit was dug upgradient from <br /> the leachfield and one pit was dug downgradient from the leachfield. Groundwater gradient was <br /> determined by the topography of the land surface which declines toward the northeast as <br /> illustrated on the attached USGS map. Groundwater normally follows the contour of the land <br /> surface, particularly when there is a sizable difference in elevation. <br /> Two constituents were analyzed to determine potential impact from the existing septic system. <br /> These two constituents are chloride and nitrate and can be indicators of septic contamination. It <br /> is well known that nitrate and especially chloride travel easily through the subsurface soil <br /> environment. Chloride is usually the first indicator of septic contamination, however, high <br /> nitrate together with high chloride is a more positive indication of septic impact. <br /> From the Water Analysis Report found in the Appendix, it is noted that contamination has <br /> apparently already occurred from the Temple's septic system. Both downgradient concentrations <br /> of nitrate and chloride show elevated levels in comparison to the upgradient concentrations, and <br /> in fact are above the MCLs. Analysis of the on-site domestic well water shows a medium <br /> concentration for both chloride and nitrate, at 316 ppm and 28 ppm, respectively. <br /> E. SURFACE WATER INFORMATION <br /> There is no body of surface water in the proximity of the septic system which may be impacted <br /> from septic effluent. <br /> 3 <br /> `Dalley Aq Ppearch <br />