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All soils, [[filter media]], and [[green roof media]] contain some water soluble salts which include essential nutrients for plant growth. When the concentration of water soluble salts exceeds a certain level, harmful effects on plant growth occur. A soil containing a high concentration of soluble salts is referred to as a saline soil. Salt-affected soils often result from the flow of salty water onto an area, either laterally (e.g., intentional [[infiltration]] of [[winter#salt|deicing salt]] laden runoff in LID BMPs; de-icing salt laden runoff splashed onto roadside soils) or by artesian flow of salty groundwater onto [[topsoil]].

All soils, [[filter media]], and [[green roof media]] contain some water soluble salts which include essential nutrients for plant growth. When the concentration of water soluble salts exceeds a certain level, harmful effects on plant growth occur. A soil containing a high concentration of soluble salts is referred to as a saline soil. Salt-affected soils often result from the flow of salty water onto an area, either laterally (e.g., intentional [[infiltration]] of [[winter#salt|deicing salt]] laden runoff in LID BMPs; de-icing salt laden runoff splashed onto roadside soils) or by artesian flow of salty groundwater onto [[topsoil]].

The soluble salts design specification for the soil component of LID BMPs is intended to ensure its fertility and suitability for maintaining healthy vegetation cover. Where concentration of soluble salts deviates from design specification, vegetation cover may be spotty or uneven, growth may be stunted, or in extreme cases, plantings may not survive and vegetation cover becomes dominated by weeds. To ensure the soil will support the growth of plantings, which contributes to the drainage and

The soluble salts design specification for the soil component of LID BMPs is intended to ensure its fertility and suitability for maintaining healthy vegetation cover. Where concentration of soluble salts deviates from design specification, vegetation cover may be spotty or uneven, growth may be stunted, or in extreme cases, plantings may not survive and vegetation cover becomes dominated by weeds. To ensure the soil will support the growth of plantings, which contributes to the drainage and

water treatment performance of the BMP and adds aesthetic value, testing of soluble salts should be done as part of construction, assumption and verification [[inspections]].

water treatment performance of the BMP and adds aesthetic value, testing of soluble salts should be done as part of construction, assumption and verification inspections.

==Testing==

==Testing==

===Assumption and Verification inspections===

===Assumption and Verification inspections===

If laboratory testing indicates soil soluble salts concentration is higher than the design or product specification, or acceptance criteria, corrective actions are only needed if problems with vegetation cover , condition or composition (i.e., dominance by weeds) are also detected through visual inspection. Where vegetation cover is poor, unhealthy or dominated by weeds and soluble salts are higher than the design or product specification or Acceptance Criteria, schedule investigative work to do further sampling and testing to determine the affected area and depth and decide on corrective actions. Depending on the findings, corrective action could involve flushing the soil area with fresh water or removal and replacement of an uppermost portion of the media with material that meets the design or product specification.  Corrective actions to address soluble salts exceedance in green roof media should be prescribed by the designer, product vendor or media supplier.  

If laboratory testing indicates soil soluble salts concentration is higher than the design or product specification, or acceptance criteria, corrective actions are only needed if problems with vegetation cover , condition or composition (i.e., dominance by weeds) are also detected through visual inspection. Where vegetation cover is poor, unhealthy or dominated by weeds and soluble salts are higher than the design or product specification or Acceptance Criteria, schedule investigative work to do further sampling and testing to determine the affected area and depth and decide on corrective actions. Depending on the findings, corrective action could involve flushing the soil area with fresh water or removal and replacement of an uppermost portion of the media with material that meets the design or product specification.  Corrective actions to address soluble salts exceedance in green roof media should be prescribed by the designer, product vendor or media supplier.  

[[Category: testing]]

[[Category: testing]]

[[category: inspections]]

[[category: inspections]]