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Date: June 1993 |
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Author(s): C. McIntyre, G. Aron, and J. H. Willenbrock |
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BACKGROUND: |
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On April 14, 1993, Curtis Schneck, a member of the Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) at Penn State, contacted the PHRC requesting an investigation of "groundwater recharge pits". Curtis formally requested this investigation at the annual PHRC Advisory Council Meeting on May 27, 1993. The thrust of the proposed project would be to develop some design criteria for the installation of these devices for land development activities. This report documents the follow-up investigation conducted by the PHRC. |
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SUMMARY OF RESULTS: |
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After: 1) further discussion, 2) a review of the design plans and calculations for Mr. Schneck's project, and 3) site visits to existing groundwater infiltration pits, it was the recommendation of the PHRC that the installation of these infiltration pits should be allowed as shown on the design of Mr. Schneck's Fairland Farms subdivision. The use of these pits is an innovative concept which should be encouraged. The rate of development in Mr. Schneck's project is at such a gradual rate that soil erosion should not be a substantial problem, and storm water runoff rates due to development should be lower than those computed by conventional methods. It is recommended that the performance of these infiltration pits should be monitored so that future design and construction methods and techniques could be modified to increase their effectiveness. Infiltration rates should be monitored after storm events. Also periodic inspection and cleaning is required to prevent clogging and to improve recharged water quality. Where practical, it is recommended that a vegetated buffer strip surround the infiltration pit. The filtering effect of the buffer will increase water quality and reduce sedimentation problems. |
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WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU: |
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The concept of returning storm water runoff to the groundwater is environmentally sound. While the design of groundwater infiltration pits is still a subject for debate, these types of innovative and creative engineering practices should be encouraged. Even though design manuals for infiltration pits do not exist, sound engineering principles and practices can be applied to the design and installation of these devices in order to make them acceptable to the regulatory agencies. |
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WHAT'S NEXT? |
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Further testing & field monitoring of groundwater infiltration devices is needed in order to develop specific design criteria for these structures. Some of the data collected from Mr. Schneck's project can be used for this purpose. |