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stormwater run-off infiltration sand bed 2

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AZCIVIL

Civil/Environmental
Joined
Nov 25, 2009
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Location
US
I have 60 rural acres in arizona that is to be developed into a RV park. Site is table flat. Parcel is surrounded by two lane roads with no where to route storm run-off, so it will have to be handled on-site. The town has said they would allow retention ponds, but I don't want to create mosquito breeding ponds. The new train of thought for storm water control is not just to create impervious conveyance channels to a detention pond, but to create pervious conveyance channels that help the run-off to infiltrate back into the ground as it is going to a detention pond, thereby reducing the volume of run-off needed to be contained. This development is a P.A.D. requiring 25% of land to be allocated for open space, so I will have areas where I could create grass covered park or play areas. I thought I could put gentle swales through these areas with sand or porous rock beds to collect the storm run-off and infiltrate back into the ground. I am concerned of clogging that might happen on the top of the sand or rock bed. Any thoughts or comments on similar projects?
 
are you in the desert or mountains? Are you handling offsite flow from undeveloped areas? Will your runoff contain sediment - either silt or fine sand? If so, you will have issues with clogging. You may need to prove to the reviewer that you can trap the sediment and that it will not clog the swales. Generally, if you can demonstrate draining in 36 hours by percolation, you can probably be permitted to do what you say. But you might need to install a drywell to make it work. I would recommend a series of shallow retention areas within the swale that fill and then overflow into the next basin which eventually flow into the outfall.
 
Have you considered an underground retention system. These typically allow infiltration w/o the critter issue. Stormtrap and Land Saver come to mind. I think both can use infiltration approaches. But as cvg stated you may need dry wells to meet the requirements. I was once told that if the water is out of the sunlight mosquitos cannot breed. I am not sure on this so some research should be conducted maybe consult a bug guy.
 
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