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May 6, 2021 <br />SOIL SUITABILITY STUDY / NITRATE LOADING STUDY <br />1246 N FINE ROAD <br />LINDEN, CALIFORNIA <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />Petralogix Engineering, Inc. has been retained by Ms. Evelyn Albor Morales to conduct a Nitrate <br />Loading Study (NLS) and Soil Suitability Study (SSS) for the property located at 1246 N Fine Road, <br />Linden, San Joaquin County, California. The site assessor parcel number (APN) is 093-040-760. <br />Proposed development consists of one 1,404 square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath residential <br />accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The parcel currently has one primary single family residence with <br />four bedrooms. The Environmental Health Department has requested the owner to submit a Soil <br />Suitability Study (SSS) and Nitrate Loading Study (NLS) to assess soil conditions pertaining to the <br />development of the parcel and associated planned septic system as well an evaluation of the projects <br />potential to contaminate surface and groundwater with nitrate. <br />The purpose of the SSS is to determine whether the soils are suitable for use with a septic system. <br />The study was conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 9-1105.2(d) of the San <br />Joaquin County Development Code. An important element of an SSS consists of conducting <br />percolation tests to determine if soils meet the required absorption rates, as required by the San <br />Joaquin County, Public Health Services, and Environmental Health Department (EHD). This report <br />has been formatted to correspond with the Soil Suitability Study Requirements Checklist of the San <br />Joaquin County Environmental Health Department (EHD) dated July 14, 2003. <br />The San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department recognizes nitrate contamination as a <br />significant threat to the surface and groundwaters of the County. Groundwater quality may be <br />impacted by nitrate contamination where percolating effluent leaches into the ground, should this <br />effluent reach groundwater. Due to the EHD concerns regarding nitrate leaching into the surface and <br />groundwaters from septic systems, a nitrate loading study is required by the EHD for the proposed <br />development to measure the potential concentration of percolating effluent and rain fall over a long <br />period of time. This report has been prepared to meet the requirements of the San Joaquin County <br />EHD's Nitrate Loading Study Requirements Checklist, dated July 14, 2003. <br />A simple mass balance formula, as discussed in the article by Hantzshe and Finnemorel in Ground <br />Water, provides a method for nitrate loading analysis to estimate long-term groundwater nitrate <br />impacts for a wide area. Based on the Hantzshe and Finnemore study, water quality in the upper <br />saturated groundwater zone approximates the quality of percolating recharge waters, which the <br />authors believe is a reliable planning tool to estimate the potential impact to groundwater, as well as <br />a useful source of analysis to official planning agencies. The equation utilized by the Hantzshe and <br />Finnemore approach considers the development area, soil denitrification factor, rainfall volume, <br />rainfall nitrate concentrations, waste effluent quantity, and waste effluent nitrate concentration. The <br />formulas, calculations, and assumptions are provided on Plates 8 and 9. The units of nitrate used in <br />the mass balance equation are nitrate-N, whose maximum drinking water contaminant level is <br />10 mg/L. <br />1 Hantzshe N., Finnemore, E.J., 1992. Predicating Ground-Water Nitrate-Nitrogen Impacts. Ground Water, Vol 30, No 4. <br />Petralogix Engineering, Inc. <br />26675 Bruella Road, Galt, Ca 95632 <br />(209)-400-5729 <br />www.petralogix.com