Slopes greater than 30 percent shall be considered what as to topography?

Study for the North Carolina Septic Inspector Exam. Use detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready today!

Multiple Choice

Slopes greater than 30 percent shall be considered what as to topography?

Slopes over 30 percent create topography that makes standard septic systems unreliable and unsafe to install. A 30% slope means a rapid elevation gain over a short horizontal distance, which leads to strong surface runoff, erosion, and poor water infiltration. The absorption area needs fairly stable, well-draining soil with enough residence time for effluent to treat; on steep ground, water runs off too quickly and soils can be unstable or shallow, causing effluent to misroute or fail the system. Because of these risks to performance and safety, land with such steep slopes is considered unsuitable for conventional septic designs.

Slopes over 30 percent create topography that makes standard septic systems unreliable and unsafe to install. A 30% slope means a rapid elevation gain over a short horizontal distance, which leads to strong surface runoff, erosion, and poor water infiltration. The absorption area needs fairly stable, well-draining soil with enough residence time for effluent to treat; on steep ground, water runs off too quickly and soils can be unstable or shallow, causing effluent to misroute or fail the system. Because of these risks to performance and safety, land with such steep slopes is considered unsuitable for conventional septic designs.

More practice questions