Slide 6 of 10
Notes:
Both the design characteristics and the best practice for a site can be influenced by regional factors such as the topography, geography, or climate of a region. The following matrix identifies five regional factors, including:
Arid/ Semi-Arid. In these dry climates, the water conservation concerns may eliminate some practices from consideration. Furthermore, practices need to be designed to reflect the challenges in these regions.
Low Relief. In areas of low relief, particularly those that are in coastal regions, STPs that require minimal head and distance to groundwater are preferred.
Cold Climates. In cold climates, practice selection or design needs to incorporate features to deal with challenges such as winter snowmelt and frost heave.
Karst Topography. Areas of karst topography presents specific challenges to STP designers, including potential groundwater contamination and sinkhole formation.
High Rainfall. Regions that receive high annual rainfall, and particularly those areas that experience frequent hurricanes, make application of some practices challenging.
This matrix is broad in coverage, and each factor may not apply for certain applications. Furthermore, a locality may choose to make finer distinctions, based on specific factors, such as identifying several climate zones within an area.
To view the matrix, left click on the raised button entitled �Step 3 Matrix.�