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5.3 Description of all current on-site sources of nitrate to soil and groundwater and the <br /> contribution of nitrate load from these sources to the project site: The only source of nitrates <br /> are the existing septic system in use by an existing parcel for residential purposes and agriculture. <br /> The existing septic system was accounted for when determining the approximate nitrate <br /> concentration the site could expect with the proposed development. <br /> 5.4 Discussion of all proposed future on-site sources of nitrate to soil and groundwater and <br /> the contribution of nitrate load from these sources to the project site: The future use of the <br /> site will be residential with a 2 acre parcel. The remaining 154 acres will be used for agricultural <br /> purposes. For residential use, the approximate flow rate that is expected to be used is between 50 <br /> to 70 gallons per person per day (Crites and Tchobanoglous). The San Joaquin County <br /> Environmental Health Department requires that a safety factor of 2 be used. Therefore, the <br /> approximate values used should be doubled. As this method of determining nitrate loads is <br /> conservative on its own, the value of 70 gallons per person per day was used. This method is <br /> conservative as it does not include lateral dispersion or mixing of groundwater. These factors of <br /> safety are additional to the County's factor of safety. The existing house three bedrooms and <br /> there is a pool house so 4 bedrooms was used in the calculation for a total 560Jgallons per day. <br /> The average total nitrogen concentration of domestic waste water is about 20-85 mg/L-N, <br /> although 35-45 mg/L-N is a better approximation(Crites and Tchnobanglous). The value <br /> selected for this site was 35 mg/L-N. <br /> The site will experience a process of denitrification as the soil naturally treats surface material <br /> through natural forms. Denitrification is a process that occurs when bacteria uses oxygen in the <br /> nitrate(NO3)and release nitrogen(Nz) into the atmosphere. Denitrification can be variable to the <br /> type of soils,chemical properties,moisture content and other variables. Although the site has clay <br /> material throughout the site, it is expected that a site with soil of these characteristics shall have <br /> approximately about 10-15%of denitrification. The value used for this site wash 15%. <br /> 5.5 Calculate mass balance of nitrogen loading considering all potential sources identified <br /> using Hanztch/Finnemore equation: <br /> Using the data mentioned within this report and the attached Soil Suitability Report, the mass <br /> balance of nitrogen loading for this site was calculated. This was done using Hanztch/Finnemore <br /> formula. Based on the Hanztch/Finnemore equation,the two-acre lot will contain a nitrate load of <br /> 8.83 mg/L-N and a flow of 560 gallons per day assuming the parcel is a four bedroom home and <br /> using the assumptions mentioned. A flow surpassing that amount could cause an impact to the <br /> site's nitrate load and surpass the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10.0 mg/L-N for Nitrate <br /> in drinking water. <br /> 6.0 Discussion of nitrate loading results relative to proposed method of <br /> wastewater disposal <br /> 6.1 Discussion of total nitrate impact from proposed project: There are very minimal <br /> possibilities that the percolating effluent could affect water conditions. The Hanztch/Finnemore <br /> equation added to the County's factor of safety of two diminish those risks,but no major additions <br /> should be made beyond the proposed improvements mentioned previously without an update to <br /> this report. <br /> 3 <br />