Chapter II.

Soil Infiltration 8

CHAPTER 2
SOIL INFILTRATION
2.1. Introduction
All kinds of soil consist of various items with the rooms, call as pores
(voids) between these points. These pores will always relate to each other so that
water can flow through the pore space. This process is called infiltration and the
soil's ability to percolate water is called ground-penetrating power. Speed of water
infiltration in soil is dependent on the content of the total pore space in the
ground, but depending on the size of each pore, so that its value is not a certain
value.

2.2. Purpose Experiment

The intention experiment was to determine ground-penetrating power for
the following purposes:
a. Determine the soil permeability coefficient (k).
b. Plan long pipe septic tank permeation.
c. Planning the ideal dimensions of the septic tank.

2.3. The used equipments

1. Bucket
2. Bailer
3. Meter
4. Glass pipes
5. Aluminum tube
6. Hand trowel
7. Stopwatch
8. Caliper

2.4. Procedures

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2.4.1 In the field

1. Practice begins with an explanation of the practical implementation of the
procedure. In the explanation of specified dimensions of the pits should be
made of 30 cm x 30 cm x 10 cm.
2. Then to the location of the laboratory and started to make a hole and then
make the land be filled with water and giving water to keep the water drop
(saturated).
3. Then the aluminum tube is inserted into the soil will be investigated and
forwarded to the installation of a glass pipe on it.
4. Furthermore the water put into a glass tube and then recorded the time it
takes the water down height dh.
5. The fourth item of work is done repeatedly until the price of a constant t is
obtained.
6. Measuring h1, h2, d, D, and l.
7. Data obtained in the field is then calculated in the laboratory.

2.4.2 In the laboratory

Basic calculation to obtain the value of k is to use a high pressure variable
as follows. For example in mind:
Glass tube = d cm
Tube = D cm
thick soil = l0 cm
Situation is reviewed shortly:
- At the time dt seconds then dropped dh cm of water.
- The volume of water will be reduced = (-a). dh

Q =A.V Q=A.k.

i = h/t = 1

v = k.i

- The volume of water that seeped in the time dt = Q. dt

- Volume of water = volume of water reduced the sink.

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(- A. Dh) = Q. dt
h
(- A. Dh) = A. k.
l

dh A.k
 .dt
h a.l

h2 A.k t2
 ln h  t
h1 a.1 t1

h2 A. k
ln h  t
h1 a. l

a.l h
k ln 2
A.t h1
1
a  .p .d 2
4
1 a d2
A  .p .D 2  2
4 A D

So the formula:

.................. (Cm / sec)

To obtain the average k is calculated by the following equation:

k average =

Where n is the number of experiments were conducted.

Field data penetrating land Resources

H2 dh K= d²xl ln h1
No d²(cm²) D²(cm²) H1(cm) (cm) (cm) l (cm) t (sec) D²xt h2

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1 1.39 67.49 122.50 119.50 3.00 9.50 15.63 0.000311

2 1.39 67.49 119.50 116.50 3.00 9.50 16.13 0.000309
3 1.39 67.49 116.50 113.50 3.00 9.50 16.59 0.000308
4 1.39 67.49 113.50 110.50 3.00 9.50 17.98 0.000292
5 1.39 67.49 110.50 107.50 3.00 9.50 17.81 0.000303
6 1.39 67.49 107.50 104.50 3.00 9.50 18.43 0.000301
7 1.39 67.49 104.50 101.50 3.00 9.50 19.44 0.000294
8 1.39 67.49 101.50 98.50 3.00 9.50 19.58 0.000300
9 1.39 67.49 98.50 95.50 3.00 9.50 22.11 0.000274
10 1.39 67.49 95.50 92.50 3.00 9.50 20.51 0.000305
11 1.39 67.49 92.50 89.50 3.00 9.50 21.19 0.000305
12 1.39 67.49 89.50 86.50 3.00 9.50 22.78 0.000293
13 1.39 67.49 86.50 83.50 3.00 9.50 23.25 0.000298
14 1.39 67.49 83.50 80.50 3.00 9.50 25.50 0.000281
15 1.39 67.49 80.50 77.50 3.00 9.50 25.39 0.000293
16 1.39 67.49 77.50 74.50 3.00 9.50 27.76 0.000279
17 1.39 67.49 74.50 71.50 3.00 9.50 28.77 0.000280
18 1.39 67.49 71.50 68.50 3.00 9.50 28.91 0.000291
19 1.39 67.49 68.50 65.50 3.00 9.50 31.07 0.000283
20 1.39 67.49 65.50 62.50 3.00 9.50 32.69 0.000281

K average = 7.404x10-5 cm/sec

WC for = 5 people
H Tube= 30 cm

2.5. Septictank Plan

The steps used in planning the septic tank dimensions are:
1. Dirty water discharge (Q) to a person, in taking Q = 25 l/day.
2. The duration of the processing of sewage in the septic tank (t) = 3 days.
3. The number of people who lived in a house (X).
4. Calculate the volume of dirty water for all people living in the house with
the formula:
V=QxTxX

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5. Determine the depth of septic tank wastewater (H), H = 1.5 m is taken.

6. Determine the ratio of length to width of the septic tank (P: B = 3: 2)
7. Calculate the length and width of the septic tank by way of septic tank
volume equal to the volume of dirty water.
Planning a required Septic tank
Estimated 1 person throw dirt (Q) = 25 liters / day
Accommodated in the septic tank for 3 days
The volume of dirty water for 1 person = 3 x 25 liter
= 75 liters
For the N persons = N x 75
= 75 liters = 75N. 10-3m3
The depth of water in the septic tank (H) = 1.50 meters
Septic tank size: - length (L)
- Width (B)
Comparison of L and B is recommended is
L: B = 3:2

Volume septic tank = Volume of sewage

LxBxH = the number of people x 75 x 10-3m3

Dimensional planning of septic tank

For: 5 people
Since L: B = 3: 2
L = 1.5 B
H = 1.5 meter
Septic tank volume = 1.5 B x B x1, 5
= 2.25 B2 m3
The volume of dirty water = 5 x 3 x 25 x 10-3 m

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Chapter II. Soil Infiltration 13

= 0.375 m3
Septic tank volume = volume of waste water
2.25 B2 = 0.375 m3
B2 = 0.1667
B = 0.408 m ~ 0.45 m
L = 1.5 B
= 0.65 meters

Dimension septic tank is: L = 0.65 m

B = 0.45 m
H = 1.5 m

2.6. The length of pipeline septic tank planning

The procedure that must be considered in planning the septic tank leach
pipe length is:
1. Dirty water discharge (Q) to a person, we let Q = 25 l/day,
2. Determining the value of k from the calculation.
3. Determining the slope of the pipe (i) by the formula:
i = h / l, we let i = 1.
4. The number of people who lived in a house (X),
5. Calculate the discharge of dirty water that goes by the formula:
Q in = Q. X

6. Calculate discharge wastewater flowing out of the formula:

Q out = A. k. i
7. Calculate the length of the pipe by way of septic tank leach discharge of
dirty water that goes the same as the discharge of dirty water that comes
out.
Planning for septic tank absorption length of pipe 30 people
Given: Q = 25 l / day / person
k = 7.404x10-5 cm/second

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Chapter II. Soil Infiltration 14

h
i= =1
l
Q in. to 5 people = 5 x (25 x 103) cm3/day
= 125 000 cm3/ day
Q out = A.K.i; → where A = b.L
Q out = 40.L.k.i
Log Q = Q out
5 x (25 x 103) = 40.L. (7.404x10-5 x 24 x 3600) .1
Lmax = 488.5 cm
= 4.9 m
Then used L max = 4.9m (in order to leach pipe was too short)
Examined:
0,5
A max = 0.4. L + (2 x sin 60 ) L

0,5
= 0.4 x 4.9 + (2 x sin 60 ) 4.9

= 7.618 m2
Q in
A min =
k
125000 cm3 /day
=
(7.404 x 10-5 x 24 x 3600 )

= 19540.24 cm2
= 1.954 m2
So A min <A trial <A max
L try (m ) A try = L try . 0,4 +  2x (0,5 / sin 60). L try ( m2 ) Qualify?
2 2 x 0,4 + (2 x (0,5/sin 60) x 2 = 3.1 Satisfies
1.5 1.5 x0,4 + (2 x (0,5/sin 60) x 1.5 = 2.332 Satisfies
Does not
1.3 1.3 x 0,4 + (2 x (0,5/sin 60) x 1.3 = 1.865
satisfy
1.2 1.2 x 0,4 + (2 x (0,5/sin 60) x 1.2 = 2.02 Satisfies
1.275 1.257 x 0,4 + (2 x (0,5/sin 60) x 1.257 = 1.9542 Satisfies
Used L = 1.3 m
2.7. Concrete pipes plan for absorption well

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Chapter II. Soil Infiltration 15

1. Procedures to determine the amount of concrete pipe needed for the

absorption well are, as follows:
1. Waste water discharge for 1 person is defined to be Q = 25 lt/day
2. Finding the k value from the calculation
3. Determining the dimension of the concrete pipe
4. The amount of time needed by the waste to decompose is taken to be
(t) = 3 days
2. The depth of the absorption well can be determine using the formulae:
D X I X A septictank  dxkxAsumur
Asumur

Where :

D = Duration (hour)

st
I X A = Q (lt/sec)

I = Pipe inclination

d = Concrete pipe diameter (60cm,80cm,100cm)

3. The amount of concrete pipe needed for the absorption well are calculated

as follows:

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Chapter II. Soil Infiltration 16

a. Waste water discharge for one person is taken (Q) = 25 lt/day

b. Stored in the septic tank for 3 days = 72 hours

-3
25 x 5 people
Volume of waste water for 5 people/day = 24 x 1000 = 5.21 x 10
3

m /hour/5people
-5 -3

7.404 x 10 x 36 = 2.66544 x 10 m/hour

Concrete pipe dimension: d = 0.8 m (chosen)

2 2

A well = ¼ x phi x (0.8) = 0.5026 m

Amount of concrete pipe needed for absorption well designed for 5 people is:

D X Qseptictank  dxkxAwell
H 
A well

(72 hours)x(5.21x10 -3 )  (0.8 x 2.66544 x10 3 x 0.5026

H 
0.5026

= 0.7442

0.7442
x
0.45

= 1.654 ~ 2 concrete pipes

Conclusion:

According to the depth of the absorption well which is 0.7442 m, the amount of

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Chapter II. Soil Infiltration 17

concrete pipe needed is 2.

2.8. Conclusion
From the observations and the experimental results we can conclude that:
1. Speed of water infiltration in soil is dependent on the content of the total
pore space in the ground, but depending on the size of each pore. So the
power of penetrating the soil is influenced by soil type and density.
2. The larger the size of grains of soil, and the more uniform (uniform) soil
grains (small informality coefficient) then the greater power of penetrating
the soil. Conversely, the less dense soil (pores can be seen from the
figure), the greater the penetrating power of the soil.
3. Ground penetrating power of research is very important in the planning of
drainage concerns.
4. According to the depth of the absorption well which is 0.7442 m, the
amount of concrete pipe needed is 2.

2.9. The suggestions

Based on calculations and the conclusions we recommend:
1. For planning regarding drainage, ground penetrating power of the study
should be done at a depth that will be used for impregnation. So which is
used to study the land taken at a certain depth that will be used for
impregnation. This is possible because the type of soil that is different
from the type of ground surface at certain depths.
2. Planning should be in the calculation of infiltration pipe length, the left
and right sides are also taken into account that the results of the
calculations are not too long.

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CHAPTER 2
TOOLS FIGURE
SOIL INFILTRATION

Scoop Trowel

Rol Meter Stopwatch

Markers Glass Pipe

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aluminum tube Bucket

Septic Tank Sections

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Section A-A

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Section B-B
(mm)

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