Stormwater Management Percolation Testing
Double Ring Infiltration Testing for Residential Stormwater Systems
Del Val Septic, Sewer & Storm provides professional stormwater management percolation testing using the double ring infiltration method to help determine how efficiently soil can absorb and disperse stormwater runoff.
Proper testing is one of the most important steps in designing an effective stormwater management system. Before an underground basin, seepage bed, infiltration trench, or other stormwater system can be properly designed, it’s critical to understand how water moves through the soil on your property.
What Is Double Ring Infiltration Testing?
Double ring infiltration testing is a field testing method used to measure how quickly water can soak into the ground.
The process uses two rings inserted into the soil. Water is placed into both rings, and the infiltration rate is measured from the inner ring. The outer ring helps reduce sideways water movement, creating a more accurate reading of how water moves vertically into the soil.
This provides valuable information for stormwater system design, including how large the system may need to be and how quickly stored water can safely return to the ground.
Why Stormwater Percolation Testing Matters
When rain falls on your property, stormwater needs somewhere to go. A properly designed system collects runoff and temporarily stores it underground until the surrounding soils can slowly absorb and filter the water back into the environment.
Percolation testing helps determine:
- Soil absorption rate
- Proper basin sizing
- Infiltration system feasibility
- Drainage performance
- Long-term stormwater reliability
Without accurate testing, a stormwater system may be undersized, poorly located, or unable to function properly during heavy rain events.
Flexible, Field-Driven Testing Approach
We work closely with engineers throughout the testing process and understand that conditions in the field don’t always match initial plans.
During the planning phase, an engineer will typically identify a proposed location for testing and future basin placement. However, subsurface conditions such as poor soils or limiting zones can require adjustments to location or depth.
Rather than simply documenting unsatisfactory results and requiring a return visit, our team takes a proactive approach.
While on-site, our experienced stormwater plumbing technicians—who are well-versed in soil conditions—can communicate with the engineer in real time to evaluate alternative test locations or depths. In many cases, we can pivot quickly and perform additional testing the same day. This approach helps:
- Avoid delays
- Reduce additional mobilization costs
- Provide usable data for design
- Keep projects moving forward efficiently
Our goal is to salvage the day whenever possible, saving our clients and project teams both time and thousands of dollars in additional testing.
Our Stormwater Testing Services
Our team can assist with:
- Double ring infiltration testing
- Residential stormwater evaluations
- Soil absorption testing
- Basin and seepage bed planning
- Site drainage recommendations
- Coordination with engineers, designers, and municipalities
Stormwater Systems Built for Long-Term Performance
Stormwater systems are not one-size-fits-all. Soil conditions, property layout, slope, runoff volume, and local requirements all play a role in the final design.
By using double ring infiltration testing—and a flexible, field-driven approach—we help provide the data needed to design a system that manages runoff properly and performs reliably over time.
Schedule Stormwater Percolation Testing
If you’re planning a stormwater management system in the Delaware Valley, seepage bed, underground basin, or drainage improvement project, Del Val Septic, Sewer & Storm can help evaluate your property and complete the necessary infiltration testing.
Contact us today at (610) 947-4800 or request service online to schedule stormwater management percolation testing using our double ring infiltration method.