ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Pask Permeameter Kit (incl auger)

Description

The field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) or permeability of soil and septic fill can be quickly and easily measured in place using the ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Permeameter Kit manufactured by Dynamic Monitors. The ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Permeameter is a variation of the ETC Standard Pask Permeameter, but is more accurate for testing slowly permeable soils such as: clay, silt, silt loam, clay loam, loam, and in some cases, fine sandy loam. The applicable Kfs range for the ETC Slow Soil Pask Permeameter is approximately 10-9 (E-09) m/sec to 10-6 (E-06) m/sec or an approximate percolation rate of 50 minutes/inch or greater.

The Pask Permeameter is named after David Pask, a public health engineer formerly with the Nova Scotia Dept. of Environment, who advocated for its use in onsite sewage assessments. It has become very popular in Canada and the USA as a convenient and much less expensive alternative to other constant head permeameters such as the Guelph Permeameter®. The test procedure is based on the constant head well permeameter (CHWP) single ponded height method described by Reynolds (2008) and by Elrick and Reynolds (1986).

Check this blog article for a detailed 20 point comparison of the ETC Pask Permeameter to the Guelph Permeameter.

ETC has prepared an updated, user-friendly guide which incorporates the research by Reynolds, Elrick and others. An abbreviated version of ETC’s User Guide has been incorporated into the new CSA B65-12 Installation Code for Decentralized Wastewater Systems and also the New Brunswick Department of Health’s Technical Guidelines for On-site Sewage Disposal Systems. 

Advantages of the ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Permeameter :

• This permeameter is extremely light, minimizing the potential for it to sink into the soil and cause errors.
• NEW! Our permeameter features a custom designed ABS cap with a secure, stainless steel clip. No more concerns about losing rubber stoppers in the bottom of the well holes!
• Very fast setup and tear down compared to other constant head permeameters (see video below).
• Small amount of water needed, typically less than 0.5 usgal (2 Liters) per test.
• Very visual; easy for homeowners to see how it works, and whether they have “good” soil or not.
• Calculations are made easy using ETC’s Quick Field Reference Tables. You can determine the Kfs value in less than 10 seconds!
• Constant head of water created by the ETC permeameter helps to minimize the impact of errors caused by improper soil characterization (estimation of α*).

The ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Pask Permeameter Kit comes with the following items:

1. ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Pask Permeameter with custom ABS cap and stainless steel clip
2. AMS Professional Series, Two-piece, Riverside auger, nominal auger diameter 2 ¾”
3. ETC Quick Reference Field Calculation Tables based on our standard auger included in the kit which produces a typical well hole size of 3 ¼” (8.3cm)
4. 2″ (50mm) Twisted wire brush (for scarifying and removing smear layers in the permeameter well hole)
5. Water extractor kit (syringe and tubing to remove excess water from overfilled well holes in slow soils)
6. Pask Permeameter User Guide
7. Hard-sided storage/carry case.

The AMS Professional Series two-piece Riverside soil auger included in the kit is used to prepare the well hole. The shape of the blades are ideally suited to achieve a uniform diameter, flat-bottom well hole, which is assumed in the CHWP theory and calculations. The auger produces an average well hole of 3 ¼” = 8.3cm diameter. These AMS augers have been beefed up from “bit to bail” and are perfect for those who want a strong, durable auger that will stand up to the wear and tear of daily use.  They have a stainless steel cylinder, and carbon steel bail, shaft and removable T-handle, which attaches securely to the shaft with a snapper pin. The auger features heat-treated, 11 gauge, high-carbon steel bits with stronger welds and extra tungsten carbide hard-surfaced edges. These Professional series augers are also reinforced with extra gussets welded at both the top and bottom of the bail. The gussets help prevent the bail from bending or twisting when augering into hard or rocky soils.

Auger dimensions: 125cm (49″) x 43cm (17″) x nominal auger diameter 2 ¾”
Auger weight: Approx. 5 lbs.

Note: Soil or fill containing abundant large gravel, cobbles or boulders may not be feasible to test using constant head permeameters.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

All prices are subject to change. Volume discount pricing may be available at the discretion of Dynamic Monitors. Contact us for more information.

Order online (preferred), or over the phone. Contact us at 1-888-747-7645 (SOIL) if you have any questions.