ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Pask Permeameter

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 manufactured by Dynamic Monitors. The ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Permeameter is a variation of the ETC Standard Pask Permeameter, which is more accurate for testing slowly permeable soils such as: clay, silt, silt loam, clay loam, loam, and in some cases sandy loam.

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 comes with the following items:

1. ETC Slow Soils Constant Head Pask Permeameter with custom ABS cap and stainless steel clip
2. Custom ETC Quick Reference Field Calculation Tables. Please supply your required well hole size, which is usually a bit larger than the actual auger diameter. If none is provided, it will be assumed you are using our standard auger which produces a typical well hole size of 3 ¼” (8.3cm)
3. 2″ (50mm) Twisted wire brush (for scarifying and removing smear layers in the permeameter well hole)
4. Pask Permeameter User Guide
5. Hard-sided carry/storage case.

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.