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' Soil Suitability/ Nitrate Loading Study 1��rracon Avanti Nut Co. ■ Stockton, CA May 19, 2016 ■Terracon Project No. NA167038 1 2.0 NITRATE LOADING STUDY Because of concern regarding nitrate leaching into groundwater from septic systems, a nitrate loading analysis is required by the EHD for the proposed development to determine the potential concentration of percolating effluent and rain fall over the long term. Where percolating effluent leaches into the ground, groundwater quality may be impacted to some degree should the effluent reach groundwater. The method utilized for the nitrate loading analysis is based on a simple mass balance formula, discussed in a published article by Hantzsche and Finnemore (1992), which provides a convenient and simplified method to estimate long-term groundwater nitrate impacts on an area- wide basis. Hantzsche and Finnemore found that over a long period of time, water quality in the upper saturated groundwater zone closely approximates the quality of percolating recharge waters. They believe that their method is a good planning tool and provides useful information to planners and local officials but with some real limitations. In their article published in Ground Water, Hantzsche and Finnemore mention that "...the equation ignores dispersion, lateral flow, and mixing with groundwater flow from up-gradient areas. These processes would generally contribute to additional reduction of nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in groundwater to the extent that the nitrate-nitrogen concentration of groundwater flow from up-gradient areas is lower." The Hantzsche and Finnemore approach is "...a conservative (worst case)first approximation of groundwater nitrate-nitrogen concentration resulting from the combined effect of on-site sewage disposal systems and precipitation. This (the equation and approach) is for estimation of long- term effect (i.e., over years) on groundwater quality, and is not intended for prediction of seasonal changes" (Hantzsche and Finnemore, 1992). The method takes into account the development area, soil denitrification factor, rainfall volume, rainfall nitrate concentration, waste effluent quantity, and waste effluent nitrate concentration. The formula, assumptions and calculations used for the analysis are shown on Plates 7 and 8. The units of nitrate used in the mass balance equation are nitrate-N, whose maximum drinking water contaminant level (MCL) is 10 mg/L. 2.1 Chemical and Physical Properties of Soil 2.1.1 Chemical and Physical Soil Properties For a discussion of on-site soil properties, refer to Section 1.5. i r Responsive ■ Resourceful ■ Reliable 10