N.J. Admin. Code Tit. 7, ch. 9A, app D

SOIL SUITABILITY CLASSIFICATION OF NEW JERSEY SOILS

Explanation of the Soil Suitability Classification System

The suitability of soil for onsite disposal of sanitary wastewater by means of individual subsurface sewage disposal systems is classified based upon the type and depth of soil limiting zones as outlined below. Definitions and criteria for recognition of soil limiting zones are provided in Subchapters 2 and 5 of this chapter.

Type of Limiting Zone	Depth,	Suitabilit
ft.	y Class
..........................................................
Fractured Rock or Excessively	[GREATER THAN]5	I
Coarse Substrata	0-5	IISc
..........................................................
Massive Rock or Hydraulically	[GREATER THAN]9	I
Restrictive Substrata	4-9	IISr
0-4	IIISr
..........................................................
Hydraulically Restrictive Horizon,	[GREATER THAN]9	I
Permeable Substratum	4-9	IIHr
0-4	IIIHr
..........................................................
Excessively Coarse Horizon	[GREATER THAN]5	I
0-5	IIHc
..........................................................
Zone of Saturation, Regional	[GREATER THAN]5	I
2-5	IIWr
0-2	IIIWr
..........................................................
Zone of Saturation, Perched	[GREATER THAN]5	I
2-5	IIWp
0-2	IIIWp
.........................................................

The soil suitability classification consists of a Roman numeral from I to III which is indicative of the severity of the limitation and a letter symbol which indicates the type of limiting zone. (In general the limitation is considered more severe when the limiting zone occurs at a shallower depth in or below the soil profile). Where more than one type of limiting zone is present, the primary classification of the soil is based upon whichever limiting zone(s) presents the most severe limitation (highest numerical symbol). Secondary limitations are given based upon limitations which are less severe (lower numerical symbols). The primary classification is stated first, followed by secondary classifications in parentheses. For example, the classification for a soil with a seasonally high water table (top of a regional zone of saturation) at a depth of 1.5 feet and a massive rock substratum at a depth of 7 feet would be IIIWr(IISr).

Where two or more limiting zones are present with the same degree of limitation, a compound symbol is used in primary or secondary classifications, consisting of a Roman numeral showing the degree of limitation together with a letter symbol for each type of limited zone. For example, the classification for a soil with a seasonally high water table at a depth 2.5 feet and a fractured rock substratum at a depth of 3 feet would be IIWrSc.

Soil Suitability Classes of New Jersey Soil Series

The type of standard septic system installation, if any, which can be approved on a specific site depends upon the soil suitability class which must be determined based upon detailed onsite soil evaluation. Such evaluation is costly and would normally not be performed prior to the purchase of land or the granting of preliminary or conceptual approvals for large tracts of land which are to be subdivided for residential or commercial development. In these or other situations where more general information regarding soil suitability is required, preliminary determinations may be made based upon information contained in the county soil surveys which are published by the U.S.D.A.--Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with the N.J. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cook College of Rutgers, The State University. These soil surveys contain descriptions of the various soil series which occur in New Jersey together with maps showing the geographic distribution of the soils. At present, published soil surveys or preliminary field maps are available for every county in the state with the exception of Essex and Hudson.

A soil series is a group of similar soil types having major horizons which are similar in thickness, arrangement and other important characteristics. The soil suitability classes provided for each New Jersey soil series listed below are based primarily upon the soil profile descriptions given in the soil survey reports.

Soil series may be divided into one or more soil phases which differ in the texture of the surface horizon, stoniness or some other property. Although soil phase differences may affect design and construction requirements, they are generally not a factor in determination of the soil suitability class given for a particular soil series. In some cases a soil series may have one or more variants which may differ significantly with respect to the types or depths of soil limiting zones. In such cases each variant is treated as a separate soil type with respect to the classification.

Each soil series is characterized by a range of soil profile characteristics so that two or more soil suitability classes may be possible for a given soil series. The soil suitability classes given below are those which are considered most typical for a given soil series. Other soil suitability classes are possible depending upon conditions which may vary from location to location.

Soil survey maps delineate the boundaries of soil mapping units in which a specific soil series, soil phase, soil complex, association or other grouping is predominant. Within every soil mapping unit however, there may be areas of dissimilar soils which are too small and scattered or otherwise impractical to show at the scale of mapping used. For this reason, use of the soil survey is not a substitute for onsite soil evaluation when detailed information for a specific site is required.

Many soil series in the coastal plain region of southern New Jersey are underlain by stratified sedimentary formations which consist of layers of contrasting grain size. In some cases layers of highly permeable sand and gravel may alternate with hydraulically restrictive layers of silt and clay. Where hydraulically restrictive layers occur at depths less than nine feet they will be a determining factor for the soil suitability classification. The presence of such layers below a depth of five feet however, is generally not indicated in the soil survey reports and therefore may not be reflected in the soil suitability classes given here. As a result, coastal plain soils series which are classified as having no limitation (Roman numeral I) with respect to hydraulically restrictive horizons and substrata may in some locations have IIHr or IISr limitations. In other cases, soil series which are assigned classifications of IISr or IIISr may in some locations have permeable substrata at depths below the extent of soil survey data such that a classification of IIHr or IIIHr may be appropriate.

In the northern portion of the state many soil series are described as having bedrock substrata at shallow depths below the soil profile. Soil survey reports generally do not provide information relative to the permeability of these rock substrata. Rock substrata underlying soil profiles of the same soil series may often range from excessively permeable to relatively impermeable. Soil suitability classes are given to represent those conditions which are considered most typical for a soil series. In many cases, however, soil series which are given classes of I or IISc may in some locations have the more severe limitations associated with classes IISr or IIISr. Classifications of rock substrata given here must be regarded as preliminary in nature and may be subject to modification based upon detailed onsite evaluation and testing.

Soil Series (Variant) Name

Typical Classification(s)

Abbottstown	IIIHR,Wp(IIISc);IISr,Wp(IIISc)
Adelphia	IIWr
Adelphia Clayey Substratum	IIISr(IIWr)
Adelphia Glauconitic Variant	IIISr(IIWr)
Adelphia Truncated	IIIWr
Adrian	IIIWr
Albia	IIIHr,Wp; IIISr,Wp
Amwell	IIIHr,Wp; IIIHr,Wp(IISr)
Amwell Rock Substratum	IIIHr,Wp; IIIHr,Wp(IISr)
Annandale	IIIHr
Arendtsville	I; IISc
Atherton	IIIWr
Athol	I
Atsion	IIIWr
Atsion Tide Flooded	IIIWr
Aura	I; IIHr
Aura Moderately Firm	I; IIHr
Aura Ironstone Variant	I; IIHr
Barclay	IIWr; IIIWr
Bartley	IIIHr(IIWp)
Bath	IIIHr(IIWpSc)
Bath Stony	IIIHr(IIWpSc)
Bayboro	IIISrWr
Bayboro Ponded	IIISrWr
Bedington	IISc
Berks	IISc
Berryland	IIIWr
Berryland Flooded	IIIWr
Berryland Freq. Flooded	IIIWr
Berryland Heavy Subsoil Var.	IIIWr
Bertie	IIIWr
Bibb	IIIWr
Biddeford	IIISrWr
Birdsboro	I; IIWr; IISc; IIWrSc
Birdsboro Gravelly Solum Var.	I
Birdsboro Sandy Subsoil Var.	IISc
Boonton	IIIHrWp; IIISrWp
Bowmansville	IIIWr
Braceville	IIIHrWp
Bucks	IISc; IISr
Califon	IIIHrWp
Califon Friable Subsoil Var.	IIIWr
Carisle Muck	IIIWr
Chalfont	IIISrWp
Chenango	IISc
Chillum	I; ISc; IIISr
Chippewa	IIISrWr
Cokesbury	IIIHrWp
Colemantown	IIIHrWp
Collington	I
Colonie	I
Colts Neck	I, IIHr
Croton	IIISrWp; IIISrWr
Donlonton	IIIHrWr
Downer	I
Downer Clayey Substratum	I
Downer Gravelly Substratum	I; IISc
Downer Loamy Substratum	I
Downer Truncated	I
Doylestown	IIISrWr
Dragstown	IIIWr; IIWr
Duffield	I; IISr
Duffield Very Rocky	IISr
Dunellen	I
Dunellen Mod. Well Drained Var.	IIIWr
Edneyville	I; IISc
Elkton	IIISrWr
Ellington Loamy Subsoil Var.	IISrWpWr; IIISrWpWr
Evesboro	I
Evesboro Clayey Substratum	IIISr; IIIHr
Evesboro Sandy Loam Subsoil Var.	I
Fallsington	IIIWr
Fallsington Clayey Substratum	IIIHr
Fallsington Var.	IIIHrWrWp
Fort Mott	I
Fredon	IIIWr
Freehold	I
Freehold Clayey Substratum	IIISr
Fripp	I
Galestown	I
Galestown Clayey Substratum	IISr
Haledon	IIIHrWp
Haledon Wet Var.	IIIHrWpWr
Halsey	IIIWr; IIIWr(IISc)
Hammonton	IIWr
Hammonton Clayey Substratum	IIISr(IIWrWp);IIIHr(IIWrWp)
Hazen	I; IISc
Hazleton	IISc
Hero	IIScWr; IIWr
Hibernia	IIIHrWp
Holmdel	IIIWr; IIWr
Holmdel Clayey Substratum	IIISrWr
Holyoke Rocky	IISc; IIISr
Hoosic	I; IISc
Howell	IIWr; IIIWr
Keansburg	IIIWr
Keyport	IIISr(IIWp)
Klej	IIWr; IIIWr
Klej Clayey Substratum	IIISrWr; IIISr(IIWr)
Klej Loamy Substratum	IIISrWr; IIISr(IIWr)
Klinesville Shaly	IISc; IISr
Kresson	IIIHrWp(IIWr)
Lakehurst	IIWr; IIIWr
Lakehurst Clayey Substratum	IIISrWrWp;IIISr(IIWrWp)
Lakehurst Loamy Substratum	IIWr; IIIWr
Lakehurst Thick Surface	IIWr; IIIWr
Lakeland	I
Lakeland Firm Substratum	I
Lakeland Water Table	IIWr
Lakewood	I
Lakewood Loamy Substratum	I
Lakewood Thick Surface	I
Lamington	IIIHrWpWr
Lansdale	IISc
Lansdowne	IIIHrWp(IISc);IIIHrWp(IISr)
Lansdowne Var.	IIIHrWp(IISc); IIISrWp
Lawrenceville	IIISrWp; IIIHrWp
Legore	I; IISr
Lehigh	IIISrWp; IIIHrWp(IISc)
Lenoir	IIISrWr
Leon	IIIWr
Livingston	IIISrWr
Lyons	IIIWr; IIISrWr;IIISrWr(IISc)
Manahawkin	IIIWr;
Marlton	IIIHr(IIWp); IIIHr
Matapeake	IIISr(IIWp); IISrWp; I
Matapeake Thin Solum	I
Matawan	IIWr; IIIHrWp(IIWr)
Mattapex	IIISr(IIWr); IIWr
Mattapex Clayey Substratum	IIISrWr
Mattapex Glauconitic Substratum	IIWr
Meckesville	IIIHr(IIWp)
Middlebury	IIIWr
Minoa	IIIWr
Mount Lucas	IIIWp(IISr)
Mullica	IIIWr
Mullica Loamy Substratum	IIIWr
Nassau	IIISr; IISc
Neshaminy	IISr
Neshaminy Fragipan Var.	IIISrWp; IIIHrWp
Netcong	I
Nixon	I
Nixon Var.	IIWr; IIIWr
Nixonton	IIIWr
Norton	IIIHr
Norwich	IIIHrWr
Oquaga	IISc; IIISr(IISc)
Othello	IIIWr
Otisville	IISc
Palmyra	IISc
Parker	IISc
Parker Rocky	IISc
Parsippany	IIHrWr; IIISrWr
Parsippany Sandy Loam Substratum	IIIHrWr
Parsippany Var.	IIISrWr
Pasquotank	IIIWr
Pattenburg	IISc
Pattenburg Moderately Wet	IIScWr; IIIWr(IISc)
Pemberton	IIWr; IIIWr
Pemberton Thick Surface	IIWr;IIIWr
Penn	IISc; IIISr
Penn Shaly	IISc; IIISr
Phalanx	IISc
Plummer	IIIWr
Plummer Very Wet	IIIWr
Pocomoke	IIIWr
Pompton	IIIWr; IIIWr(IISc)
Pope	I; IISc
Portsmouth	IIIWr
Preakness	IIIWr
Preakness Dark Surface Var.	IIIWr
Quakertown	IISc; I
Quakertown Channery	IISc
Raritan	IIIHrWp; IIIHrWp(IISc)
;IIIHrWp(IISr)
Raynham	IIIWr
Readington	IIIHrWp(IISc);IIWpSrSc; IIWrSc
Reaville	IIISrWp(IIHc)
Reaville Deep Var.	IIISrWp(IIHc)
Reaville Wet Var.	IIISrWp(IIHc)
Ridgebury	IIIHrWp
Riverhead	I; IISc
Riverhead Neutral Var.	I; IISc
Rockaway	IIIHrWp
Rowland	IIIWr
Royce	IISc
Sassafras	I
Sassafras Clayey Substratum	IIISr; IISr; IIIHr; IIHr
Sassafras Water Table	IIWr
Shrewsbury	IIIWr
Shrewsbury Clayey Substratum	IIIWrSr
Shrewsbury Ironstone Var.	IIIWrHr
Shrewsbury Truncated	IIIWr
Sloan	IIIWr
Steinsburg	IISc
St. Johns	IIIWr
St. Johns Clayey Substratum	IIIWrSr
Swartswood	IIIHrWp
Tinton	I
Tinton Thick Surface	I;
Tioga	I; IIWr; IIWrSc; IISc
Turbotville	IIIHrWp
Unadilla	I
Valois	I
Venango	IIIHrWp; IIISrWp
Wallkill	IIIWr
Washington	I; IISc
Wassaic	IISc; IIISr
Wassaic Rocky	IISc; IIISr
Watchung	IIIHrWpWr
Wayland	IIIWr; IIIWrSr
Weeksville	IIIWr
Westphalia	I
Whippany	IIISrWp;
Whippany Sandy Loam Substratum	IIIHrWp
Whitman	IIIHrWp
Woodmansie	I
Woodmansie Firm Substratum	I
Woodmansie Loamy Substratum	I
Woodstown	IIIWr; IIWr
Woodstown Clayey Substratum	IIIWrSr; IIIWr(IISr);IIWrSr;
Woodstown Loamy Substratum	IIIWr; IIWr
Wooster	IISc; I
Wurtsboro	IIIHrWp; IIIHrWp(IISc)

Following is a listing of miscellaneous mapping unit designations which do not consist of any one specific soil series or soil series variant. In general these mapping units cannot be assigned a soil suitability class due to extreme variability or a lack of data. The type of limitations which are generally associated with these mapping units are indicated below:

Mapping Unit Designation

Type(s) of Limitations

Alluvial Land (Various Modifying Terms)	Flooding, Wetland
Clayey Land-Keyport Materials	Hydraulically Restrictive Substrata
Clayey Land-Marlton Materials	Hydraulically Restrictive Substrata
Clay Pits	Disturbed Ground, Hydraulically
Restrictive Substrata
Coastal Beach	Dunes, Excessively Coarse Substrata
Cut and Fill Land	Disturbed Ground
Dune Land	Dunes, Excessively Coarse Substrata
Fill Land (Various Modifying Terms)	Disturbed Ground
Fluvaquents	Flooding
Fresh Water Marsh	Wetland
Gravel Pits	Disturbed Ground, Excessively
Coarse Substrata
Humaquepts	Wetland
Made Land (Various Modifying Terms)	Disturbed Ground
Marsh (Various Modifying Terms)	Wetland
Mine Dump	Disturbed Ground
Muck (Various Modifying Terms)	Wetland
Peat (Various Modifying Terms)	Wetland
Pits (Various Modifying Terms)	Disturbed Ground
Psamments	Dunes, Excessively Coarse Substrata
Quarries	Disturbed Ground
Rock Land-Edneyville Material	Rock Outcrops, Excessively
Coarse Substrata
Rock Outcrop	Rock Outcrops
Rough Broken Land	Excessively Stony
Sand Pits	Disturbed Ground, Excessively
Coarse Substrata
Sandy Land	Excessively Coarse Substrata
Steep Stony Land Parker Material	Slope, Excessively Stony
Sulphaquents	Wetland
Sulphihemists	Wetland
Swamp	Wetland
Tidal Marsh	Wetland
Urban Land	Disturbed Ground

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code Tit. 7, ch. 9A, app D