Georgia Residential Contractor Practice Exam

Absorption field lengths are primarily sized by what criteria?

1. Number of bathrooms and water usage

2. Number of bedrooms or gallons per day, and soil percolation rate

3. Property size and age of the facility

4. Location of the property and usage type

The correct answer is: Number of bedrooms or gallons per day, and soil percolation rate

The sizing of absorption field lengths is determined primarily by the number of bedrooms or the daily gallons of wastewater generated, as well as the soil percolation rate. This approach is grounded in the understanding that the design of septic systems must accommodate the volume of effluent produced by the property while also considering how quickly that effluent can be absorbed and treated by the soil. The soil percolation rate plays a critical role because it indicates how well the soil can absorb and filter the wastewater. If the soil has a high percolation rate, it can handle more water in a smaller area, whereas a low percolation rate requires a larger field to ensure proper absorption and prevent surface contamination or system failure. The other criteria mentioned in the alternatives do not encompass the essential factors needed for sizing absorption fields. While factors like water usage and property size can be relevant in a broader context of assessing site suitability or overall wastewater management, the direct and necessary criteria for sizing specifically relate to the daily water output and the characteristics of the soil.