On-site infiltration of road runoff using pervious pavements with subjacent infiltration trenches as source control strategy

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 64; no. 7; pp. 1388 - 1397
• Main Authors: Fach, S, Dierkes, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Aromatic compounds; Construction Materials; Contaminants; Detection; Drainage; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Gravel; Groundwater; Groundwater - analysis; Heavy metals; Hydrocarbons; Jointing; Joints (timber); Lead; Limestone; Mineral oils; Monitoring; Oil; Pavements; Petroleum; Pollutants; Rain; Rainfall; Runoff; Seepage; Sprinkling; Storm runoff; Storms; Stormwater; Subsoils; Surface runoff; Trenches; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Water - analysis; Water - chemistry; Water Movements; Water samples
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2011.227

The focus in this work was on subsoil infiltration of stormwater from parking lots. With regard to operation, reduced infiltration performance due to clogging and pollutants in seepage, which may contribute to contaminate groundwater, are of interest. The experimental investigation covered a pervious pavement with a subjacent infiltration trench draining an impervious area of 2 ha. In order to consider seasonal effects on the infiltration performance, the hydraulic conductivity was measured tri-monthly during monitoring with a mobile sprinkling unit. To assess natural deposits jointing, road bed, gravel of infiltration trenches and subsoil were analysed prior to commencement of monitoring for heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic and mineral oil type hydrocarbons. Furthermore, from 22 storm events, water samples of rainfall, surface runoff, seepage and ground water were analysed with regard to the above mentioned pollutants. The study showed that the material used for the joints had a major impact on the initial as well as the final infiltration rates. Due to its poor hydraulic conductivity, limestone gravel should not be used as jointing. Furthermore, it is recommended that materials for the infiltration facilities are ensured free of any contaminants prior to construction. Polycyclic aromatic and mineral oil type hydrocarbons were, with the exception of surface runoff, below detection limits. Heavy metal concentrations of groundwater were with the exception of lead (because of high background concentrations), below the permissible limits.