Akron's subsurface is a direct legacy of the Wisconsin glaciation: layered glacial tills, outwash sands, and Pennsylvanian-age shale bedrock that controls groundwater movement in ways a simple lab test cannot capture. The city sits atop the buried Akron aquifer, where perched water tables appear unexpectedly in sandy lenses within till, and the underlying shale can be tightly sealed or heavily fractured depending on depth. These conditions make field permeability testing (Lefranc and Lugeon) the only reliable way to quantify hydraulic conductivity before dewatering, slope cutting, or deep foundation work. The Ohio EPA requires accurate infiltration data for stormwater management, and a guess based on grain-size correlations simply will not hold up when the drill hits a water-bearing seam at 20 feet. We run these tests across Summit County's variable terrain, from the Cuyahoga River valley to the upland plateaus, integrating results with CPT testing to cross-check stratigraphy and with slope stability analysis where groundwater pressures dictate the factor of safety.
A single Lugeon test in fractured Akron shale tells you more about water inflow risk than twenty lab perm tests on intact core.
Process overview
Local context
The Ohio Building Code and local stormwater regulations reference ASCE 7 and ODOT specifications that presume groundwater control measures are based on field-measured permeability, not estimated values. In Akron, the biggest liability arises when dewatering systems are sized using lab tests on undisturbed samples that do not reflect the fracture network. A basement excavation in the Merriman Valley can hit water at the till-shale contact and flood overnight if the contractor relied on a textbook number. Slope failures along the Cuyahoga River corridor are another common consequence of underestimated pore pressures; the groundwater regime in colluvium over weathered shale simply does not follow isotropic assumptions. For dam remediation and levee work, the USACE requires in-situ Lugeon testing to assess seepage potential, and no amount of lab data can substitute.
Reference standards
ASTM D6391-11: Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Using Borehole Infiltration, USBR 7300-89: Procedure for Performing Lugeon Tests in Rock Boreholes, ISO 22282-2:2012: Geotechnical investigation and testing — Geohydraulic testing — Part 2: Water permeability tests in a borehole using open systems, ODOT Geotechnical Manual, Chapter 4: Groundwater and Permeability
Additional services
Lefranc Variable-Head Test in Soils
We isolate a screened interval in the borehole and record water level recovery over time, calculating hydraulic conductivity for the specific soil layer. Ideal for dewatering design, infiltration basin sizing, and cutoff wall evaluation in Akron's glacial deposits.
Lugeon Packer Test in Rock
We use single or double packer systems to test discrete zones in sandstone and shale, applying five pressure steps to characterize fracture flow. The results support tunnel pre-excavation grouting, dam foundation assessment, and deep excavation planning.
Typical parameters
Quick answers
How much does a field permeability test cost in Akron?
A single Lefranc test in soil typically runs US$680–US$850, while a Lugeon test in rock with a packer system ranges from US$850–US$1.070, depending on depth, access, and whether the borehole is already available. Mobilization and test interval isolation are included; extended pressure step sequences or multiple depths in one hole are priced per additional test interval.
When do I need a Lugeon test instead of a Lefranc test?
Lefranc tests apply to soil and very weathered rock where the borehole wall stands open. Lugeon tests are for competent rock, especially fractured shale and sandstone, where a packer system seals off a section and applies pressure to measure fracture flow. In Akron, we switch to Lugeon once the auger hits bedrock and the core shows jointing; the test also tells us if the fractures will need grouting.
Can you run the test in an existing monitoring well?
Usually not. Monitoring wells have a sand pack and screen that connect the entire open interval, whereas Lefranc and Lugeon tests require a short, isolated test section without filter pack influence. We can, however, use an existing borehole if it is open and the sidewalls are stable, or advance a new test boring to the target depth.