ETTL News & Views
Volume 12 • Spring 2004 Newsletter
The new electronic version of ETTL's Newsletter … Keeping you up to date on
what's happening at ETTL Engineers & Consultants … typical current projects …
how we can be of service to you … links to our web site and people … and more!

A SOIL LINER INVESTIGATION

Swiftly Assuring Retention Qualities
of a Dairy Waste Pond
Before It Is Put into Service

In some respects a simple project, yet crucial as far as HMH Dairy (of Sulphur Bluff, Texas) was concerned (as well as the water table beneath). The pond, shown in the final stages of excavation, was to be relatively small: about 10,000 sq ft (100 ft square); 30 ft square at the bottom, and about 12 ft deep. ETTL obtained its soil sample for analysis from what would be the center of the pond's bottom. Most often such samples are taken with a Shelby tube, pushed down with the help of a dozer or other heavy equipment to a depth of about 2 feet, and then pulled out with a chain.

ETTL's test data indicated that the soil was suitable for a waste retention pond. Such variables as plasticity index (PI), liquid limit (LL), and percent passing the #200 sieve met all regulatory requirements. Hydraulic conductivity (or permeability) met the requirements of 30 TAC (waste regulations for Texas). The tests were carried out in about a day's time (ETTL's soil laboratories in Tyler are set up to do permeabilities in one to two days). The report, including analytical data, was delivered to HMH Dairy within ten days.

One of the main points we want to make with this little news item is that ETTL not only has highly trained personnel available to take samples and carry out tests to determine suitability of soils in a great variety of applications (also ensuring that governmental requirements will be met), but that it has top-of-the-line laboratory equipment and capabilities which enable it to do so swiftly! This applies both to samples that we collect and test for our clients, and to samples that clients themselves are able to collect and bring into our soil laboratories. Our web site provides typical laboratory turnaround times that apply to both types of situation. (Click here to see Representative Minimum Turnaround Times for ETTL Soil Laboratory Services.)

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