Statistical and Process-Based Models of Stormwater Treatment Basin “Aging” to Quantify Infiltration Rate Sustainability and Maintenance Intervals

Summary:

Stormwater infiltration is the preferred stormwater treatment method as defined in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction Stormwater and MS4 Permits. These permits require that stormwater infiltration facilities achieve minimum and maximum stormwater infiltration rates post-construction. Post-construction infiltration rates can be measured; however, it is unknown whether infiltration rates remain constant, increase, or decrease over time. It is also unknown what soil and vegetation factors determine how infiltration rates change over time. The ability to monitor and predict stormwater basin infiltration rates is critical to identifying basins that meet or fail to meet infiltration rate criteria and, therefore, to prioritize maintenance investments. This research project will develop and study monitoring and modeling tools to forecast stormwater basin infiltration rates to estimate basin lifetimes for maintenance planning and prioritization.

Final Deliverables:

Related Materials:

Related Research:

• Assessment of Field Infiltration Performance of Swales in Comparison to Minnesota Swales Calculator Estimates
• Design and Construction of Infiltration Facilities