View an example of a Land Capability Assessment and EPA Certificate

Below is an example of an acceptable Land Capability Assessment, an LCA Model Report and an Extract from an EPA Certificate:

• • View an example of a Land Capability Assessment
  • View an example of a Land Capability Assessment Model Report from SGW
  • View an example of an EPA Certificate extract

 Source: Souther Gippsland Water Derived from Septic Systems Information Booklet by Mansfield Shire

Relevant legislation and guidance:

The LCA must comply with guidance and directives provided in the:

• EPA Code of Practice: Onsite Waste Water Management, Publication Number 891.3 (2013)
• Australian Standard 1547 (2012), Onsite Domestic Waste Water Management
• EPA Information Bulletin: Land Capability Assessment For Onsite Domestic Wastewater Management, Publication 746.1 (2003)

What Should The LCA Contain?

The LCA should contain: – General information about the site, such as area and property details, locality, water supply, nature of the development and maximum wastewater loads. – A scaled plan showing, as a minimum, contours, boundaries, location of dams and watercourses within and near the site, location of any buildings and other proposed uses of the land, the location of the wastewater treatment system, wastewater envelopes, and proposed set back distances. –

Key site and soil features (minimum)

a. Site drainage/runoff
b. Flood/inundation potential
c. Slope (%) Land Capability Assessments – An Overview for the Land Owner
d. Landslip potential
e. Seasonal water table depth (m)
f. Rainfall (mm/yr)
g. Pan Evaporation (mm/yr)
h. Soil Profile Structure
i. Profile Depth
j. Sodicity ESP%
k. Permeability (m/day)
l. Stoniness (%)
m. Dispersivness
n. Salinity (dS/m)

These features are commonly displayed in a risk matrix that provides an overview of the constraining elements encountered during the LCA. The most constraining individual feature rating determines the overall site rating.

All field data obtained should be provided in a field record sheet that describes the soil profiles encountered and applicable soil categories, results of permeability tests, and other relevant tests and their results (dispersion, pH, salinity, etc.).

The site rating and associated general information can then be used to prepare a report that recommends a management program which includes:

• • • Type of waste water system that could be used
    • Acceptable methods of applying the effluent to the land
    • Ongoing management plan that is required to ensure proposed system operates within manufacturer specifications
    • The report should make reference to the relevant legislation and guidance as disclosed above.
    • Any climate data used must be referenced

In order to accurately determine the land application area required for disposing of the effluent, a water and nutrient balance calculation must also be undertaken. This balance, in conjunction with relevant irrigation and loading rates prescribed in the legislation, enables an appropriate land area (waste water envelope) to be determined. Water balance calculations take into account the climate, waste water volumes, the absorption capacity of the soil and transpiration rate of vegetation. The calculations used to derive the final effluent area required must be clearly shown.

 Source: Managing Rural Properties by Yarra Ranges Council