Services. Testimonials

Windmaster Corner Community, Hood River, OR

Septic Remediation & Restoration

The following GMS products were applied to the septic system and drainfield at Windmaster Corner:

  • GMS Land Reclaimer will remediate the contaminated soil of the drainfield on-site by promoting native bacterial growth that will consume the contaminants in the soil.
  • GMS Soil Optimizer will convert the dense clay soil and hardpan of the drainfield to a loamy, draining soil that allows moisture to permeate the drainfield’s soil normally and encourage healthy drainage.
  • GMS BioWaste Digester will digest organic waste in the septic system, breaking down the septic’s sludge and slurry and eliminating odors.
  • Grace’s Rooting Compound will stimulate root growth for plant propogation. The Rooting Compound is registered with the EPA and is a non-toxic approach to propogation, ideal for phytotechnology projects. It can be applied in low volumes, is target-specific, and duplicates a naturally-occurring process in plants.

Located along the Northwest’s Columbia River Gorge, roughly 70 miles east of Portland, Hood River, OR is renowned for its fertile agricultural landscape, and in recent years, its ideal conditions for outdoor sports such as windsurfing, kiteboarding, and close proximity to ski areas. These features have cast an

attractive image on the area. However, adjacent to Hood River, a community suffers from failing septic systems and the threat of fecal-oral disease.

The Windmaster Corner community of Hood River County, south of the city of Hood River, OR, has long suffered the effects of failing septic systems. As described in the 2005-2006 Hood River County Executive Summary, there are approximately 60 land parcels in the area, with 17 of the subsurface septic systems currently failing. This problem has been in existence for at least 20 years, with more residences susceptible to failure with the passing of time.

The septic system failure is evidenced by systems backing up into their respective residences, resulting in raw sewage pumped out into area ditches, and ground water becoming contaminated with untreated or partially-treated effluent. The Windmaster area remains at risk for fecal-oral disease, according to the Executive Summary. However, financial constraints within the community and lack of voter support to fund connection to the local sewer system have continually stalled progress in remedying the problem.

GreenMarket Solutions, Inc. (GMS) is currently conducting a pilot project in the Windmaster Corner Community. GMS is working with a local Windmaster Community resident to remediate and restore his failed septic drainfield. It is GMS’ intention to prove the viability of utilizing GMS’ green and sustainable products and services to remediate and restore failed septic systems and reduce, if not eliminate, the related problems stemming from such failures.

The following actions were taken to substantiate the effectiveness of the GMS products on the septic system and drainfield:

GMS BioWaste Digester was applied to the septic system holding tank on March 17, 2006 in order to break down the septic system’s sludge and slurry and to control the noticeable waste odor. The odor was noticeably diminished in subsequent visits

commencing April 7, 2006 to present.

GMS Land Reclaimer was applied to the septic drainfield via in-situ injection on July 3, 2006 in order to control the levels of fecal coliforms contamination.

Pre-application soil testing was performed in April of 2006 by TestAmerica Analytical Testing Corporation. The minimum reporting limit for this testing was 2.57 MPN/g (Most Probable Number per gram), which equates to a soil sample requirement of 2.00 MPN/g with an additional .57 MPN/g factored in for foreign debris mixed with the sample, such as rocks, stick, etc. Initial testing indicated a contamination level of 9.01 units MPN/g. The MPN/g is number of colonies growing on the membrane.

Post application soil testing for fecal coliforms was performed in October 2006. The minimum reporting limit was 2.00 MPN/g due to the soil sample being void of any foreign debris. Testing results indicate that fecal coliforms contamination levels could not be detected, as the test results were below the minimum reporting level.

GMS Soil Optimizer was applied to the septic drainfield via in-situ injection on July 3, 2006, in order to convert the dense clay hardpan into a draining soil.

Pre-application soil testing was performed in June 2006 by Northwest Testing, Inc. A Flexible Wall Permeability (ASTM D5084) test was performed with the following results:

Flexible Wall Permeability - Test Results (ASTM D5084)
Test 1k
(cm/sec)
Test 2k
(cm/sec)
Test 3k
(cm/sec)
Test 4k
(cm/sec)
Test 5k
(cm/sec)
1.82x10-7 1.76x10-7 1.82x10-7 1.51x10-7 1.73x10-7

Post-Application soil testing was attempted in August, 2006. However, as per Laboratory Staff, “NTI (Northwest Testing, Inc.) was unable to run a flexible wall permeability test on Sample Number 2. Sample Number 2 was loose and fell apart when it was extruded from the Shelby Tube.”

Further comments by laboratory staff indicated that, based on past experience handling soil samples, the soil sample from Sample Number 2 did not behave characteristically as a typical clay soil, in that it would not clump and remained in a loose state. Moisture introduced to the sample to gauge the permeability percolated through the soil at a faster rate than could be measured by the test standards. The only way to slow down the percolation was to physically compact the soil down to a dense state.

These comments appear to support the ability of GMS Soil Optimizer to convert dense clay soils to a loamy draining soil.

Currently, the site is undergoing the landscaping phase of the project. Grass seed has been planted, and additional plantings and trees to aid in phyto-remediation, such as poplar, are being planted at the site. Grace’s Rooting Compound will be utilized at this time to aid in the propagation of these plantings.

Monitoring of the impact of all GMS products applied will continue at this project, so as to further document the validity and duration of all results.