Soil permeability refers to a soil's ability to transmit water and air, which is important for fish culture. A pond built in impermeable soil will lose little water through seepage. Permeability is determined by the voids between soil particles and their interconnection, which provides a path for water flow. Laboratory tests measure permeability by timing water flow through a soil sample under constant or falling head. The coefficient of permeability is calculated using measurements of flow rate, head difference, sample length and area.