A study of water infiltration basin and clogging using column experiments

Abstract

The clogging of infiltration basins is the main problem affecting the proper functioning of groundwater artificial recharge systems. In this study, several parameters have been varied to understand their impacts on water infiltration. The experimental results show that the effect of initial humidity is significant for less porous material such as silty soil (Hamri) and sand. The air bubbles are also an important factor to take into consideration since when trapped within porous structures, it forms a barrier for the displacement of water infiltration. The accumulation of suspended particles in stormwater can contribute to clogging by creating a light layer due to the finest particles, which remain in suspension for a long time. Finally, for the tested materials and experimental conditions, we observed that a combination of a silty soil and sand layer in the design of infiltration basins was more practical than a combination of sand and gravel. The latter, despite its high porosity, could release very fine particles; which would create a cement layer of clogging when deposited at the interface. This layer is an obstacle for water infiltration, thus rendering the device thus constructed unsuitably for groundwater recharge, by reducing its life.