City of Creedmoor
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Triassic Soils and You
Check out DEQ's webpage for more information HERE
Creedmoor and the Triassic Basins of North Carolina
Triassic basins in all of North Carolina cause difficulties to development and drainage maintenance. In Granville County and more specifically Creedmoor this often means that septic and well development is not realistic and your property may fail the Percolation (PERC) test or a well may not produce enough water consistently. Check in with us at the Community Development Office to receive a zoning authorization application for a PERC test and the contact information of the Granville County Environmental Health Department. If your property is in the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) you can at least see if your property is suitable for septic and well.
Where are the Triassic basins?
Of the three Triassic basins in North Carolina: the Dan River basin, the Davie County basin, and the Deep River basin. Granville County and Creedmoor are affected by the Deep River Basin.
Click the link below to view the geologic survey map for your area.
What are they made of and why does that matter?
Triassic basins, specifically in Creedmoor, are mostly made of sandy loam. Sandy loam means that the soil has a mixture of clay, sand and/or silt that has a slow permeability and water instead of infiltrating vertically moves horizontally across the land causing an increase in runoff. The United States Department Agriculture’s Soil Survey of Granville County characterizes Creedmoor soil as being moderately well drained or somewhat poorly drained, having high mottled (pg148) subsoil, and having a seasonal high water table at a depth of 1.5 to 2.0 feet (soil horizon pictured below). This soil type and its effect on water movement is what contributes to difficult development of well and septic systems in Creedmoor, NC.
What is groundwater?
Simply put groundwater is water that is in saturated areas underground. It is a major water source for public supplies and for agriculture in the United States. More than 50% of North Carolina's population get their drinking water from groundwater, including both private and municipal wells.
When it rains, some of the water soaks into the ground, rather than flowing into the nearest drain or stream. Water not taken up by plant roots moves deeper into the earth and becomes groundwater, which in turn feeds lakes and streams through springs. Both the quantity and quality of groundwater are human concerns. Water that flows through contaminated soils can also become contaminated. What we dump on the ground can eventually end up in our drinking glasses.
Groundwater typically moves slowly, but in soil like Creedmoor’s it slows to a crawl and because of this we have to take extra steps with our groundwater. Creedmoor’s run off and groundwater is especially important because it affects two of North Carolina’s biggest population centers, Raleigh and Durham.
Why is my backyard always wet? & Why is there standing water in my ditch?
As we talked about previously the Triassic Basins in Creedmoor are made up of sandy loam. The geological structure of sandy loam has an impact on water infiltration and the water table of Creedmoor. This means that water which would normally infiltrate is often slowed down even further. This reduction in infiltration speed causes the water to move horizontally or to rest on the property in low lying areas. With time and patience, sunshine will evaporate the water and dry the ditch.
Can property owners do anything?
The easiest solution for new development is connect to the water and sewer lines. These sort of developmental difficulties can be circumvented with connection to the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority (SGWASA) system if possible and nearby. If it is not possible to connect to SGWASA or just not financially feasible, first get a PERC test on your property. PERC tests determine whether or not the soil can take a septic and well hookup.
Additional Resources
South Granville Sewer and Water Authority
NC Department of Environmental Quality- Groundwater Resources
US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service- Web Soil Survey
Ground Water and the Rural Homeowner
What is Ground Water a USGS Article
Who to contact?
Contact Creedmoor’s Community Development Department for help and to receive the Zoning Authorization form (click HERE for permits page) for your property’s PERC test. You can contact us at planning@cityofcreedmoor.org or by calling our office. All of our contact info can be found on the front page of the Community Development or by clicking HERE.