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I. INTRODUCTION Ms. Royelie Diamond is proposing to create four, ± 5 acre residential parcels from an existing 19.69 acre parcel in a rural, unsewered portion of San Joaquin County. This report presents the test results and research findings of the Nitrate Loading and Soil Suitability Studies conducted as a prerequisite for this Minor Subdivision. The subject property is located east of Lodi on Harney Lane, one-half mile east of Jack Tone Road. City of Lodi water and sewer systems do not extend to the subject property and probably never will. The property is designated as Township 3 North, Range 8 East, Section 19. It is bound to the north by Harney Lane and a grape vineyard, to the south is open pasture land, to the east by the San Joaquin County Migrant Farm Labor Camp and the defunct Harney Lane Landfill, and to the west by ranchettes, comprised mainly by five acre parcels. The San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department (PHS-EHD) requires Nitrate Loading and Soil Suitability Studies for projects in unsewered areas, or for projects which may potentially impact the underlying groundwater with nitrate. This report complies with the San Joaquin County Development Title, Section 9-1105.2 for a Nitrate Loading Study and Soil Suitahility Study. Additionally, this proposed project must comply with the Environmental Health Department Sewage Standards, specifically Section 10 - "Requirements for Waste Disposal for New Land Developments." The primary concern of nitrate in drinking water is that high concentrations can cause methemoglobinemia in infants and it can also induce abortion or death in cattle. This disease occurs through a series of complex chemical reactions within the hemoglobin in the blood. Only infants and young children are susceptible. Although this disease is extremely rare, nitrate can also potentially cause other health concerns. There have been scientific studies also to suggest that nitrate may produce carcinogenic effects in humans. Nitrate concentrations in water can b� expressed in two different terms: 1.) As the weight of the nitrate molecule, which is one atom of nitrogen and three atoms of oxygen for an atomic weight of 62 units. Or, 2.) Nitrate can be expressed as the amount of the nitrogen atom itself. This one atom of nitrogen (N) in a nitrate molecule contributes 14 atomic weight units to the weight of the nitrate molecule. The ratio of weight of the nitrate molecule (NO;) to the atom (N) is 62/14 or approximately 4.5. The U.S.E.P.A. has established the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of nitrate in drinking water at 45 mg/I as nitrate. Due to the ratio described above, the MCL is sometimes reported as 10 mg/I as nitrate-nitrogen. The Environmental Health Department has stipulated these studies address the following concerns: ❑ Conduct percolation tests and investigate the present nitrate concentrations within the underlying groundwater through well water analysis. ❑ Estimate potential nitrate impact with conventional septic systems on each of the four parcels and discuss mitigation measures. ❑ Research groundwater impacts from the Harney Lane Landfill. 1