SOIL STUDIES
If you’re selling or purchasing a piece of property in an
area without access to county sewer, wouldn’t you want to know if the land “perks?" A soil feasibility
study helps establish land value and is a valuable decision-making tool. Are you planning a new housing development, a family
subdivision, a church, or a commercial facility? A soil feasibility study is a cost effective method of determining the suitability
of a site for drainfields, buildings, roads, and other land uses before investing time and money into design development.
Our studies include a detailed suitability report and
feasibility map. Soil feasibility studies are commonly used for:
- Property Transaction
Decisions & Marketing
- Subdivision and General Land Development Planning
- Early Detection of Wetlands, Shrink-Swell Soils & Other Problem Soils
Contact us for more information about feasibility maps.
Using Health Department guidelines, we document individual
drainfield sites for subdivision lots and recommend a type of onsite septic system for each lot. Individual site and soil
reports are prepared and certified by an
Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator (AOSE). A
Homesite Planning Map is prepared that shows, at a minimum, the location of the proposed drainfield area, a water supply, a homesite,
and a driveway. MSCI was one the first companies in the industry to prepare a
Homesite Planning Map. Not only does it provide the necessary documentation required by the local planning and
health department for approval, but also it is a valuable marketing tool for land owners and developers.
Contact us for more information about subdivision planning.
DRAINFIELD SITE EVALUATION & ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN A drainfield site evaluation is intended
to document sufficient information to choose an appropriate onsite sewage disposal system. Our approach includes consideration
of the physiographic province (e.g., geologic setting), topography, available area, degree of slope, and soil profile. We
also evaluate the distance of the onsite system to various topographic and structural features. When a drainfield site
is chosen, we select the
longest-lasting, best value components from leading manufacturers.
The evaluation and design of your onsite system is very important because it
must meet your needs and adhere to state regulations and local ordinances. Improper evaluation and design can lead to health,
safety and economic issues. Our evaluations and designs fulfill the Health Department requirements for
construction permits and certification letters. Our packages generally include everything you need to obtain approval from the Health Department
including a
site sketch and
design drawing. We offer the following evaluations and designs:
For alternative onsite septic systems, high quality
effluent is achieved using treatment systems such as MicroFAST, E-Z Treat and Advantex. MSCI has spent a considerable amount of time researching and evaluating
various treatment units and have found these units to be the most reliable, cost-competitive systems available.
Contact us for more information about evaluation and design of onsite septic systems.
ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEM START-UP, INSPECTION & CERTIFICATION
We stand behind all the onsite
systems we design. Professional inspection reports, as-built drawings and certification statements are submitted to the
Health Department on your behalf. We will also inspect onsite septic systems designed by others under certain conditions.
Contact us for more information.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ONSITE SYSTEMS
We offer Operation & Maintenance Programs that work for you and ensures proper system function for years to come. Our services include system start-ups, homeowner
consultation, service contracts, certified inspections, reporting, and system upgrades.
All alternative septic systems require
a service and maintenance contract starting July 1, 2009 by legislative mandate (House Bill 3134, General Assembly
2007). Contact us for a free evaluation and quote. We are an authorized service provider for the following systems:
- Advantex
- Norweco
- MicroFAST
- PuraFlo
- Drip
Systems
- Discharge Systems
FOUNDATION SOIL STUDIES (SHRINK-SWELL TEST)
Shrink-swell soils cause billions of dollars
of damage to homes and property in the United States every year. Damage can be avoided or alleviated if the potential of a
soil to shrink and swell is known prior to building construction. Accurately predicting shrink–swell potential
requires knowledge of the soil properties that influence shrinking and swelling and the magnitude of these factors. In response
to the risk of property damage, most counties require shrink-swell analysis prior to building construction. Our evaluations
are conducted by
Certified Professional Soil Scientists and fulfill the county requirements for shrink-swell testing.
We test foundation soils for homes with structural
damage, existing homes with proposed additions, individual lots, subdivision lots, and commercial properties. Please note
that we are not engineers and we do not design foundations. However, we have extensive experience in this area and we
may save you design and inspection costs.
- Local and Regional Analysis of Hydrogeology
- Water
Quantity & Quality Evaluation
- Impact of Ground Water Withdrawal
- Well Siting by Fracture Trace Analysis
RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
OTHER GENERAL SERVICES
- Relative Topography
- Ksat Tests (Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity)
- GPS