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.
Highlights
Infiltration basins are a good management tool for rainwater and treated wastewater
The air bubbles are an important factor to take into consideration since when trapped within porous structures, it forms a barrier for the displacement of water infiltration
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
Summary
Infiltration basins are a good management tool for rainwater and treated wastewater. Widely used today as an alternative to the sewerage network of stormwater, which reduces the risk of flooding, contributes to the trapping of pollutants, and allows the settling of suspended matter loaded with pollutants [1,2,3]. Infiltration basins are known to recharge the groundwater as well as other benefits [4,5,6,7] Despite their beneficial characteristics, these systems are exposed in the long term by the risk of clogging, which reduces its hydraulic performance and limits the interception capabilities of water flows and pollutants. The superficial zone of infiltration basins undergoes numerous processes over time, such as discontinuous flow of water and charged by sediments and pollutants. These intermittent bring related to rain, are characterized by various physicochemical and biological phenomena, which makes the interface structure/soil very evolving in time and heterogeneous in space, causing the clogging phenomena. Special attention should be put to the specification of the original filter media, to ensure its compliance with the design requirements [8]
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