Hydrogeologic Investigation & Aquifer Testing

Nutter & Associates completed an assessment for the Landings Associations (the Landings) of their existing Land Application System (LAS).

NAI was contracted to evaluate the LAS in terms of its current performance and assess redevelopment strategies that may enable the optimal use of the LAS property for wastewater management and other development potential. The Landings was interested in maximizing the use of the LAS and associated property located on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. A key long-term goal was to utilize the LAS property as efficiently as possible with the intention of reducing, where possible, the LAS footprint by optimizing the design loading and/or incorporating buffer areas into the wetted field area. The study also investigated the potential hydraulic connectivity between the upper portion of the surficial aquifer that is recharged by the LAS and the deeper portion of the surficial aquifer where irrigation wells are located within LAS spray fields and are pumped to provide golf course irrigation water.

NAI conducted a review of existing data, performed a soil investigation, and a visual survey of the LAS. Several monitoring wells were completed, and NAI utilized the existing pumping wells to conduct an aquifer investigation during a planned wellfield shutdown and subsequent restart. Water level responses in various wells were utilized to determine the amount of connectivity between the irrigation wellfields (deep portion of the surficial aquifer) and the shallow portion of the surficial aquifer. The Landings were interested in the potential interconnectivity of the two parts of the Surficial Aquifer to determine if there was a potential quantifiable benefit of pumping the irrigation wellfields to increase the hydraulic capacity of the LAS spray fields. The study identified effective strategies to optimize the efficiency of the LAS and maximize utilization of irrigable areas having the greatest hydraulic capacity. However, aquifer testing demonstrated negligible connectivity between the upper and lower portions of the surficial aquifer.