The Infiltration Model, developed by Cahill Associates, demonstrates the hydrologic difference between detention and infiltration for stormwater management.
Over the past twenty-five years, the primary method of stormwater management for new development projects has focused on peak rate control of runoff using detention basins. This approach is based on controlling the post-development peak rate of runoff so that it is no greater than the pre-devlopment peak rate in an effort to solve potential flooding problems.
With detention design, increased runoff is collected and held for several hours and subsequently released to the receiving stream or watercourse, causing stream channel erosion and negative habitat and water quality impacts.
Conversely, infiltration design mimics the natural hydrologic cycle by using methods to collect increased runoff and then allow it to infiltrate slowly into the soil mantle. Infiltration design is capable of controlling the peak rate AND the volume of runoff while recharging the groundwater aquifer and reducing water quality impacts from development.
The CA infiltration model demonstrates how to design infiltration systems using standard hydrologic design methods and proves that infiltration is a viable stormwater management strategy that meets and often exceeds current regulatory criteria.
For more information on the Infiltration Model, contact Cahill Associates.
|
