California Real Estate Practice Exam

The county building inspector would not approve a site ready for construction on a new residence until a "percolation" test had been approved. The latter deals with:

1. none of the above

2. runoff drainage

3. septic tank

4. water table

The correct answer is: none of the above

The concept of a "percolation" test is critical in the context of determining whether soil is suitable for a septic system. This test gauges how quickly water is absorbed into the ground, which is essential for the proper functioning of a septic tank. If the soil has insufficient percolation rates, it may lead to inadequate drainage and, as a result, contamination of the local water supply. The other mentioned options are closely related to the overall construction and environmental impact considerations but do not directly address what a percolation test evaluates. For instance, runoff drainage pertains to how water flows over land and can involve different measures that don't specifically involve soil absorption rates, while the water table refers to the level of the ground that is saturated with water. Although these factors are important in site planning, they are not what a percolation test assesses. Given this understanding, the correct answer aligns with the specific intent and purpose of a percolation test as it directly relates to the viability of a septic tank system on the property.