Infiltration

Infiltration of stormwater into underlying native subgrade soils is one mechanism to achieving MECP runoff volume control targets. In many areas of Ontario, where municipal and private drinking water supplies are drawn from aquifers, it's also an important mechanism for groundwater recharge.

Drainage via infiltration be achieved through a number of LID BMP types:

• Infiltration chambers (underground)
• Infiltration trenches (underground)
• Exfiltration systems (underground)
• Bioretention (surface, full- or partial-infiltration design variations)
• Bioswales (surface, full- or partial-infiltration design variations)
• Permeable pavements (surface, full- or partial-infiltration design variations)
• Stormwater tree trenches (surface, partial-infiltration design variation)
• Enhanced swales or swales featuring check dams (surface)
• Dry ponds or infiltration basins (surface)

Constraints

Infiltration practices are not recommended:

1. over-swelling clays or unstable subsoils,
2. contaminated soils or sites with high risk of contamination from on-site activities (i.e. pollution hot spots),
3. in areas of known or implied karst topography,
4. on unstable or steep slopes (>15%),
5. to treat construction site runoff,
6. to treat combined sewer overflows,
7. in flood prone areas where the wastewater system is sensitive to groundwater conditions causing sewer backups,
8. in areas where the ecology and natural hydrology are dependent upon surface water,
9. in areas where increased infiltration will result in elevated groundwater levels that will damage critical utilities or private property, or
10. where prohibitions and/or restrictions exist per approved Drinking Water Source Protection Plans (e.g. should not be used to treat pavement runoff within 2 year time of travel wellhead protection areas; see MOECC guidance).

See Site considerations for further guidance on potential site constraints and LID facility type selection and design considerations.

Designing with constraints

Infiltration facilities can be effective on low permeability soils with infiltration rates ≤ 15 mm/hr:

• See underdrains and
• Results from STEP studies of infiltration facilities located on low permeability soils in Ontario.

Infiltration facilities should be designed with modifications where:

1. the underlying bedrock is within 1 m below the bottom of the proposed BMP, or
2. the seasonal high groundwater level (i.e. water table) comes within 1 m below the bottom of the proposed BMP.

Target groundwater separation

In many areas of Ontario the target separation between the base of an infiltrating LID practice and the seasonally water table or bedrock surface elevation is 1.0 m. This is to mitigate risks due to short periods of groundwater mounding and potentially unobserved seasonal fluctuations. Seasonally high water table elevation should be determined through continuous water level monitoring of wells in the vicinity of the proposed infiltration facilities during spring months (March to June), when water levels in shallow aquifers are typically at their peak. In areas where a 1.0 m separation cannot be provided, or where conditions dictate that an even greater separation may be warranted, additional discussion and/or analysis specific to the physical characteristics of the site and the proposed design should be completed. The design practitioner is advised to consult with approval agencies to understand their requirements and/or expectations prior to undertaking work, and to complete an appropriate level of analysis to support their conclusion. The detail of investigation and/or documentation supporting a proposed design may be reduced in areas where ≥ 1.0 m separation is anticipated.

Retention of an unsaturated zone beneath the practice :

• Minimizes the potential for functional impacts associated with reduced percolation rates,
• Maintains the physical and biochemical water quality treatment benefits provided within the vadose zone.

Groundwater mounding

Groundwater mounding describes the localized raising of the water table beneath infiltration practices. It may be of concern if it affects nearby structures including building foundations. When you wish to model the extent of groundwater mounding beneath an infiltration facility, use this Tool that incorporates Hantush's derivation (1967).

Download the Hantush groundwater mounding tool

Note that this is a minor adaptation (metric units and formatting) from the original tool, written and hosted by the USGS.

Preventing groundwater interaction

Many LID systems rely upon reuse, or evaporation and transpiration instead of infiltration to the ground. If the site cannot support any infiltration, consider

• Rainwater harvesting,
• Stormwater planters,
• Green roofs, or
• Blue roofs.

Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater Program

ORMGP Public mapping portal

Depth to groundwater raster and contours from the ORMGP

The Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater Program works collaboratively with government agencies and consultants to better understand and manage the water resources of the Oak Ridges Moraine physiographic region, which stretches from the Credit and Nottawasaga River watersheds in the west, to the Trent River in the east and reaches from the shores of Lake Ontario northwards to Lake Simcoe and the Kawartha Lakes watersheds. The program delivers a multi-agency collaborative approach to collecting, analyzing and disseminating geological and hydrogeological knowledge as a basis for effective decision making and stewardship of water resources in this part of Ontario. Visit the program website to learn more about program elements and publications. Through the public mapping portal portion of the program website users have the ability to generate maps of estimated water table elevation and depth to water table for sites captured by the regional groundwater model and locate existing well and borehole records. This provides LID designers with a powerful tool for identifying opportunities for, and constraints to implementating stormwater infiltration facilities with regard to groundwater levels.

Other sources of groundwater data

• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources geotechnical boreholes database
• Ontario groundwater
• Provincial groundwater monitoring network map

Planning

Hydrogeology

The Conservation Authorities Geoscience Group has prepared a guidance document which attempts to standardize the hydrogeological study requirements for development applications made to Conservation Authorities. It is a helpful guide for all low impact development applications which include infiltration. It is provided with the caveat that not all sections or content are necessary or appropriate for every case. Pre-consultation with your local conservation authority and municipality is strongly recommended in all cases.

Hydrogeological Assessment Submissions Conservation Authority Guidelines for Development Applications

Beginning an infiltration BMP design?

See Infiltration testing and Design infiltration rates pages

See also

• Site considerations

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Planning

Hydrogeology

The Conservation Authorities Geoscience Group has prepared a guidance document which attempts to standardize the hydrogeological study requirements for development applications made to Conservation Authorities. It is a helpful guide for all low impact development applications which include infiltration. It is provided with the caveat that not all sections or content are necessary or appropriate for every case. Pre-consultation with your local conservation authority and municipality is strongly recommended in all cases.

Hydrogeological Assessment Submissions Conservation Authority Guidelines for Development Applications

Beginning an infiltration BMP design?

See Design infiltration rates

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See also

• Site considerations

Layer of rock or soil that holds or transmits water.

Increases in groundwater storage by natural conditions or by human activity. See also artificial recharge

The inflow of surface water to a groundwater reservoir or aquifer.

Low Impact Development. A stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased urban runoff and stormwater pollution by managing it as close to its source as possible. It comprises a set of site design approaches and small scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration and evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting.

Best management practice. State of the art methods or techniques used to manage the quantity and improve the quality of wet weather flow. BMPs include: source, conveyance and end-of-pipe controls.

Structures constructed of a non-erosive material, such as suitably sized aggregate, wood, gabions, riprap, or concrete; used to slow runoff water. Can be employed in practices such as bioswales and enhanced grass swales.

Ground depression acting as a flow control and water treatment structure, that is normally dry.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

Land owned by private individuals or companies.

Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program

The upper surface of the zone of saturation, except where the surface is formed by an impermeable body.

Subsurface water level which is defined by the level below which all the spaces in the soil are filled with water; The entire region below the water table is called the saturated zone.

Abiotic transfer of water vapour to the atmosphere.

The slow movement of water into or through a soil or drainage system.

Penetration of water through the ground surface.

A stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased urban runoff and stormwater pollution by managing it as close to its source as possible. It comprises a set of site design approaches and small scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration and evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting.