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' A estimated to be synthesized by Iandscape plants, including trees, low shrubs and lawn grasses: f For six months out of each year (April-September), it is theorized the plants will utilize 50% of j Cavailable ammonium and nitrified ammonium (nitrate) molecules emanating from the septic i effluent (the remaining 50% is lost to denitrification, immobilization and leaching). The colder months of the year, the plants may synthesize 20% available ammonium. Consequently, an additional 35% (50% +20%- 2 = 35%)reduction in nitrate concentrations may occur, above the calculated nitrate loading wastewater: 7.5 ppm nitrate-nitrogen - 35%= 4.9 ppm NO3-N or 21.8 ppm NO3 entering the vadose zone. It is important that nitrogen fertilization of the lawn, shrubs and trees be kept to a prescribed minimum, if at all. All lawn clippings must be removed and not mulched back into the grasses. Mulching would add nitrogen to the nitrogen cycle and increase loading in this area. It is also a possibility that the lawn grass will take up the ammonium from the effluent in the chambers and cause "striping" of the lawn area. If this happens and is found to be undesirable, the gardener may add small amounts of a slow release nitrogen fertilizer in the "less green" stripes. Disposal fields within landscaped areas should be assessed carefully. Ammonium in high concentrations can be toxic to all plants including grasses. Under certain conditions, the ammonium ion is hydrolyzed to ammonia. If the landscape plants show signs of stress, this may be the reason. Hydraulic loading to the disposal field from sprinkler irrigation system and rainfall must be monitored carefully. If there is sufficient rainfall during the winter months, the landscape irrigation must be turned off. During the spring and summer months, the proper volume of sprinkler irrigation is critical. There should only be sufficient volume of water to percolate down three to four inches into the root zone. The amount of irrigation water should be determined by the landscaper. Additionally, deciduous plants should not be irrigated in the winter or they may drown. As noted in Appendix G, the leachfield disposal area is outlined in red and encompasses 3,500 square feet (approximately one-twelfth of an acre). Therefore, this area must be dedicated on the newly purchased property to comply with the 100%reserve area requirement. This is in addition to the primary disposal field for a possible new building and its reserve area. Therefore, the total wastewater disposal area that must be reserved on the new property may be: 3,500 sq ft+ 3,500 sq ft (possible new building primary and reserve areas) + 3,500 sq ft (reserve area for main chocolate manufacturing facility) = 10,500 sq ft(one-fourth of an acre out of 2.16 acres). The physical characteristics of the surface soils reveal an infiltration rate of 43 minutes/inch. This translates to the following application rate for the Infiltrator® Chamber disposal field: 1800 ft' x 144 int /ftp =259,200 int area in disposal field x I inch in depth= 259,200 in' 259,200 in' x 0.004329 gallons/in' = 1,122 gallons of effluent the soil/effluent interface will accept every 43 minutes. Since all but a very small comparative volume of food wastes will be introduced into the septic system, this will substantially reduce the organic loading. The benefits of handling the food wastes as solid wastes are significant: 1.) The grease UaU will fun more efficientl e it will not be overloaded and will therefore require pumping at less frequent intervals, j 15 Ches7wy Consulting