Re: Sandy Soils test?

**l*@juno.com**

Hi Lynn,

This information is readily available to you. The original developer had
to file a set of plans and obtain approvals from your local Planning or
Land Use Board. Depending what kind of government you have in Indiana,
this could be at the municipal level (if home rule) or the county level
(if not). Developers are required to do soil borings and identification
and all of that information must be made available to you through OPRA
(Open Public Records Act) within a short time period. In NJ, I believe
it's seven business days. Just ask the board secretary to see the maps;
they are usually very helpful.

If the development has wells and septics, all of THAT information is kept
by your local Board of Health. Well drillers must make a complete report
on their borings (soils, subsoils, rock formations, etc.). The Board of
Health itself determines what types of fill must be put in the septic
leach field, depending upon what soils are there. This information is
available for each lot in the development.

On a larger scale, your county Soil Conservation Service keeps data on
soils and provides maps that show where the different types of soils are
located in your area. Occasionally, political issues can affect the
quality of help you get there.

If the development is dependent on individual wells, or even a common,
private well, education helps. We are just starting to get a migration of
folks from "down below" who do not wish to make any effort towards
maintaining their own properties. Planning Board members were appalled to
discover that a typical sprinkler system pumps out between 9 and 11
gallons of water PER MINUTE. Members of the HOA should be informed that
the result could be rapid burning out of well pumps, or worse, water
mining of one another's wells and those of their neighbors outside the
development.

Lastly, contrary to what many people believe, irrigation water is not
returned whence it came, i.e. the aquifer or fracture source, but runs
off as storm water into storm sewers, streams, etc. Thus it is lost from
the recharge cycle. Click here
http://loisdevries.blogspot.com/search/label/Lawn%2FGrass for my take on
grass. Another great resource closer to you is Marcus de la Fleur
www.delafleur.com/168_Elm/index.htm 

Regards,

Lois J. de Vries
Visit http://loisdevries.blogspot.com

On Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:17:50 -0400 Lynn Jenkins <ljenks@tds.net> writes:
> There is an HOA board which claims they must irrigate the lawns 
> (excessively) because their soil is sandy. Not likely in clay/loam 
> Indiana, but are there actual tests, or is that a judgement call by 
> a 
> professional looking at the soil? I don't live there, but am 
> assisting a friend as she fights the HOA for forced irrigation 
> practices in this age of water conservation issues.
> Can these tests be professionally done? These people won't talk to 
> anyone unless they are "professionals."  The irrigation 
> "professionals" have convinced them to water, water, water or the 
> lawns will turn brown! UGH.
> 
> 
> 
> Lynn Jenkins
> Indiana Living Green, Inc.
> a Hoosier's guide to a sustainable lifestyle
> www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
> Lynn@IndianaLivingGreen.com
> 317.769.3456
> 317-769-5756 Fax  
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