Site Suitability Assessment

BST carry out site suitability assessments for on-site wastewater treatment systems under the EPA Groundwater Protection Scheme.

Site Suitability Assessment

In all cases where a planning application involves a proposal to use a septic tank or other on-site treatment system, a site assessment is required.  This is to ensure ground waters are protected.

The system of site assessment required under the EPA document involves several elements:

1. A desk study which looks at available documented information on a site. This includes information on the soils, geology, location of wells and streams etc.

2. A visual assessment which involves looking at the site and its surroundings to gain an indication of how well or poorly drained the site is likely to be and what targets are likely to be at risk in the area (e.g. Rivers and streams bounding a site, public or private wells in close proximity to the site).

3. On-site investigations including an assessment of the soil profile up to a depth of 2m, or greater in some cases, and percolation tests to confirm the drainage conditions.

4. Recommendations as to the form of wastewater treatment, if any, are best suited to the site conditions.