One of the most common mistakes we see on Springfield jobsites is assuming a single lab permeability value will hold up across the entire site. We get called in after the dewatering system fails or the retention pond won't hold water — and almost every time, someone skipped the field test. The reality is that the fractured limestone and variable chert residuum that define the Springfield Plateau karst terrain make laboratory values unreliable on their own. A Lefranc test in soil or a Lugeon test in rock gives you the actual hydraulic conductivity where it matters, accounting for joints, fissures, and solution cavities you simply cannot replicate in a permeameter. Our team runs these tests across Greene County — from the Jordan Creek corridor to developments out toward Republic Road — and the data we collect feeds directly into dewatering design, grouting programs, and cutoff wall specifications. When the USACE or MoDOT is reviewing your submittal, having field-verified K values from a CPT test combined with Lefranc or Lugeon data makes the approval process a whole lot smoother.
A single Lugeon test in fractured Burlington limestone will tell you more about site permeability than a dozen lab tests on intact core samples.
Our approach and scope
Local considerations
Springfield sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation on the Springfield Plateau, and the underlying karst aquifer — part of the Ozark Aquifer system — supplies drinking water to much of southwest Missouri. That's a big deal when your project involves deep excavation or infiltration structures. The city's Land Development Code and Greene County stormwater regulations require demonstrated hydraulic performance for BMPs, detention basins, and infiltration trenches. If your Lefranc test data doesn't match the design assumptions, you could be looking at a redesign during construction — and that's never cheap. Worse, uncontrolled groundwater inflow through solution-enhanced fractures has caused multiple construction delays on commercial projects along the Glenstone Avenue corridor. We've seen it. A properly executed field permeability program catches these conditions during the geotechnical investigation phase, not after the shoring is in and the pumps are overwhelmed. The IBC and ASCE 7 both defer to site-specific investigation for groundwater control design — and in karst, that means field testing, full stop.
Relevant standards
ASTM D6391 — Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Using Borehole Infiltration (Lefranc), USACE EM 1110-2-1901 — Engineering and Design: Seepage Analysis and Control for Dams, Houlsby, A.C. (1976) — Routine interpretation of the Lugeon water-test, IBC 2021 — Section 1803 Geotechnical Investigations, Greene County Stormwater Management Design Criteria
Complementary services
Lugeon Packer Testing in Rock
We run multi-stage Lugeon tests in NQ and HQ core holes, isolating intervals with pneumatic packers and applying five-step pressure cycles. Data interpretation follows the Houlsby method, classifying flow regime — laminar, turbulent, dilation, washout, or filling — and quantifying the Lugeon value for each test interval. Essential for grouting design, dam foundation assessment, and deep tunnel permeability profiling across the Springfield Plateau limestone.
Lefranc Borehole Permeability in Soil
Constant-head and falling-head Lefranc tests in overburden soils, from residual clay to alluvial deposits along Wilson's Creek. We match the test configuration to the expected permeability range and provide K values in cm/s for direct use in dewatering system design, infiltration basin sizing, and seepage analysis. Every test includes a detailed lithologic description of the test zone so you know exactly what material the number represents.
Typical parameters
Common questions
What's the difference between a Lefranc test and a Lugeon test — and which one do I need for my Springfield project?
The Lefranc test measures hydraulic conductivity in soil — that's your overburden, residual clay, or alluvium. The Lugeon test is specifically for rock, where you isolate a section of borehole with packers and inject water under pressure to characterize fracture permeability. If your Springfield site has significant rock excavation planned — common once you get below that 20- to 30-foot clay layer — you'll likely need both. We typically run Lefranc in the soil column as we advance the hole, then switch to Lugeon once we're into competent Burlington limestone.
How long does a field permeability test take on site?
A single Lefranc test in soil usually takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the permeability of the material and whether we're running constant-head or falling-head. A five-stage Lugeon test in rock — with setup, packer inflation, pressure steps, and equilibration — typically runs one to two hours per test interval. For a typical Springfield commercial site investigation with three to five test intervals, plan for one full field day. We coordinate with the drilling crew so testing happens right after the core run, minimizing mobilization delays.
What does field permeability testing cost in the Springfield MO area?
For most projects in Springfield and Greene County, field permeability testing ranges from US$560 to US$900 per test interval, depending on depth, access conditions, and whether we're running Lefranc in soil or Lugeon with packer setup in rock. A typical program with three test intervals, including mobilization and reporting with pressure-flow curves and K calculations, generally falls within that range per test. We provide a detailed scope and cost breakdown before any field work starts.
Do I really need field permeability testing, or is lab testing enough for stormwater infiltration design?
Lab permeability tests on Shelby tube or split-spoon samples don't capture secondary permeability — fractures, root holes, dessication cracks, or solution features. In Springfield's karst terrain, that secondary permeability often controls the actual infiltration rate. The Greene County stormwater criteria and most BMP design manuals will require field-verified infiltration rates for any significant stormwater facility. We've seen lab K values off by an order of magnitude or more compared to what a Lefranc test measures in the same soil. Field testing is the standard of care here.