Soil Risk Verification 

Out in the paddock is where it all starts with effluent design.  Soil type plays a key part in determining the land’s ability to absorb effluent and keep it in the root zone.  This is how nutrient retention (and utilisation) can be maximised and creating the best farm practice. 

 

In the storage calculator, the soil is split into ‘low’ or ‘high’ risk. It’s important to get this right as it will have a significant impact on the storage calculation and effluent design.  The national soil mapping database will show the effluent risk for some areas. This is generally used as a guideline only – the information isn’t always an accurate up to date reflection of the soil on site. 

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Soils can vary across an area and there may be both high and low-risk soil types on the same property.  There is an accredited process we follow to assess the soil characteristics, including the infiltration rate on site.  This allows us to verify the different soil types, assess what are most suitable for effluent application, and ensure we get the risk profile right.