A dimensionless procedure for the design of infiltration trenches

This article presents a procedure for the design of infiltration trenches-devices used to attenuate surface runoff in areas featuring soils with medium or high infiltration capacity. In this procedure, the upstream catchment area is represented through the kinematic model, and the balance of incoming and outgoing flow rates and stored water volumes is used to represent the trench. The outgoing flow rates infiltrating the surrounding soil during the rain event are calculated by means of a constant infiltration capacity equal to the saturation hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The procedure exploits a dimensionless approach and the dimensionless graphs obtained can be easily used. Comparison of the design configuration derived according to the proposed procedure with the results of a more complex model based on time-varying infiltration capacity and area attests to the reliability of the simpler procedure. © 2012 American Water Works Association.