Guest post by Noah Puckett with Agri-Waste Technology. 

Soil is one of our most important natural resources, yet it’s often overlooked and underappreciated. It performs seven general functions: it serves as a medium for plant growth, modifies the atmosphere, provides habitat for countless living organisms, recycles nutrients, supports foundations, holds water, and (most importantly for us at AWT) acts as a living filter for water. We value every one of these functions, but that last one is where we do our work. What happens to your wastewater after you flush? Where does it go, and how does it get cleaned when there’s no treatment plant to send it to? The answer is right beneath your feet. As soil scientists, we evaluate soils to determine their suitability for septic systems. Then, with the help of our engineers, we design and permit systems that safely treat wastewater and return clean water to the environment.

Niche as our work may be, its importance reaches nearly every community. Whether someone is building their first home, their forever home, a business, a school, or even a community sports complex, wastewater is always part of the equation. For anyone buying, selling, or developing land, a soil evaluation early in the process can reveal what a building lot can support before time and money are committed. Everyone uses the bathroom. It’s a basic human necessity, and that wastewater has to go somewhere. At AWT, we make sure it goes somewhere safe. Our work lets you flush and forget, but now you know that beneath your feet, a carefully evaluated site and a well-designed system are quietly holding, filtering, and moving your wastewater. Pretty amazing, if you ask us. Isn’t soil the best?

Who is Noah Puckett?

Associate Soil Scientist and Roanoke Project Manager

Noah joined AWT as an intern in 2024 and became a full-time Associate Soil Scientist in June 2025. Originally from Oxford, North Carolina, Noah now lives in Salem, Virginia, where he is helping expand AWT’s services in southwest VA and across the state. Noah holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Soil Science from NC State University. Noah developed an interest in soil science after taking an introductory course at NC State and discovering there’s a lot more to soil than meets the eye. Noah conducts soil evaluations, septic system inspections, and assists the engineering team with septic system layouts and detailed soil testing. Noah is a North Carolina Soil Scientist in Training. He is also a licensed Virginia Journeyman Onsite Soil Evaluator (OSE). Noah is currently working toward obtaining his North Carolina LSS, Virginia PSS, and Virginia Master OSE. Outside of work, Noah enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, and hunting.

More about septic systems from Charles:

Outside of our areas that have public sewer we rely on septic systems and hope we never have to think about them. I met Noah and found him to be an incredible resource for making sure we get the system right up front.

Wastewater leaves the home and enters an underground septic tank where solids settle to the bottom and oil/ grease floats to the top. The liquid effluent flows out into a system called a drain field where the soil does the work of filtering. These systems in our area can cost from $3,000 – $20,000 with many variables coming into play. They can also range in size from 1,000 sf to 5,000 sf and must be held away from your foundation, property line, open bodies of water, and well. The tank needs regular maintenance every 3 to 5 years. The drain field should only have grass on top of it – should not be driven across and should not have trees growing over it. You should also avoid flushing chemicals, grease, garbage, or wipes to help the system stay healthy.