Hydrologic Modeling of a Bioinfiltration Best Management Practice

The goal of this research was to develop a methodology for modeling a bioinfiltration best management practice (BMP) built in a dormitory area on the campus of Villanova University in Pennsylvania. The objectives were to quantify the behavior of the BMP through the different seasons and rainfall eve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Water Resources Association 2006-10, Vol.42 (5), p.1329-1347
Main Authors: Heasom, W, Traver, R.G, Welker, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
best management practices
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
filter strips
Freshwater
hydrologic models
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
infiltration (hydrology)
nonpoint source pollution
pollution control
runoff
seasonal variation
stormwater management
urban areas
Water resources
watershed hydrology
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Summary:The goal of this research was to develop a methodology for modeling a bioinfiltration best management practice (BMP) built in a dormitory area on the campus of Villanova University in Pennsylvania. The objectives were to quantify the behavior of the BMP through the different seasons and rainfall events; better understand the physical processes governing the system's behavior; and develop design criteria. The BMP was constructed in 2001 by excavating within an existing traffic island, backfilling with a sand/soil mixture, and planting with salt tolerant grasses and shrubs native to the Atlantic shore. It receives runoff from the asphalt (0.26 hectare) and turf (0.27 hectare) surfaces of the watershed. Monitoring supported by the hydrologic model shows that the facility infiltrates a significant fraction of the annual precipitation, substantially reducing the delivery of nonpoint source pollution and erosive surges downstream. A hydrologic model was developed using HECHMS to represent the site and the BMP using Green-Ampt and kinematic wave methods. Instruments allow comparison of the modeled and measured water budget parameters. The model, incorporating seasonally variable parameters, predicts the volumes infiltrated and bypassed by the BMP, confirming the applicability of the selected methods for the analysis of bioinfiltration BMPs.
ISSN:1093-474X
1752-1688
DOI:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2006.tb05616.x