BS 6297:2007 “Code of practice for the design and installation of drainage

fields for use in wastewater treatment”.

Method of testing

At the test locations, a 300 mm square hole is excavated to a depth of 300 mm

below the proposed invert level (bottom of pipe) of the infiltration pipe. Then
the hole is filled to a depth of 300 mm to saturate the local soil, and allow this to
seep away completely.

At the next stage, the percolation rate is determined by refilling each hole with
water to a depth of 300 mm and observe the time in seconds for the water to
seep away from 75% full to 25% full (i.e. a depth of 150 mm). Then the average
time in seconds required for the water to drop 1 mm is obtained. The test is
repeated three times in each hole and take average figure from the tests to
determine the Percolation Value Vp (in seconds per mm).

The cross-section of typical percolation test hole and trial hole is shown in
Figure below.