Guidance on calculating volumes for underground infiltration BMPs in the MIDS calculator

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Schematic used for determining inputs for the Underground infiltration BMP for the MIDS calculator.

The Minimal Impact Design Standards calculator requires a user to input a value for water stored in an underground infiltration practice below the outflow (overflow) pipe and above the top of the underlying soil or engineered media. This is not a straightforward calculation because there are a wide variety of underground pipe shapes and because two different calculations must be made - one for storage in the pipe and another for storage in the media surrounding the pipe. If engineered media is used in the practice, the calculator also requires a calculation of the surface area of the engineered media. This calculation is fairly simple. Both these calculations can be made using a spreadsheet developed for this purpose. Water storage in an underground system is shown in the schematic to the right.

Schematic used for calculating volumes for circular pipes.

Calculating underground pipe storage volume (V_P)

To calculate underground pipe storage volume (V_P we need to add the volume stored in the pipes and in the media adjacent to and beneath the pipes.

Circular pipes

Considering the schematic to the right, the volume of water stored in the open space within the pipes (V_pipes) is given by

\( ((π r^2 * arccos((0.5 * D_p - D_O)/(0.5 * D_p))) - (((0.5 * D_p) - D_O) * sqrt((2 * 0.5 * D_p * D_O) - D_O * D_O))) * L_p * N_p \)

where

r is the radius of the pipes (ft);

D_p is the diameter of the pipes (ft);

D_O is the overflow depth (ft);

L_p is the length of the pipes (ft); and

N_p is the number of pipes.

The above equation assumes a half-pipe configuration. The term on the right accounts for the volume above the bottom of the overflow. This water is assumed to discharge through the overflow and not vertically below the outflow.

The total volume of pipe and media (V_t) that can hold water is given by

\( (D_O + D_M) * L_B * W_B \)

where

D_M is the depth of media below the pipes (ft);

L_B is the length of the underground basin (ft); and

W_B is the width of the underground basin (ft).

The volume of the media (V_M) equals the difference between the total volume and the volume in the pipes (V_t - V_pipes, in cubic feet. The volume of water stored in the media is equal to V_M times the porosity. The Excel spreadsheet calculates the amount of water stored in media below the pipes and in media adjacent to the pipes, but this differentiation is not needed if the porosity of all media is the same.

Rectangular and hexagonal pipes

Schematic used for calculating volumes for hexagonal or rectangular pipes.

Considering the schematic to the right, the volume of water stored in the open space within the pipes (V_pipes) is given by

\( ((W_p * D_O *L_p) - ((D_O - H_1) * (W_p - W_O) * L_p) * N_p \)

where

W_p is the width of the pipe at its base (ft);

D_O is the overflow depth (ft);

L_p is the length of the pipes (ft);

H₁ is the height of the pipe at its first turn;

W_O is the width of the pipe at the bottom of the outlet (ft); and

N_p is the number of pipes.

The first set of terms computes the total volume, while the second set of terms accounts for pipes that are not rectangular. If the pipe is rectangular, the height at the first turn should be set equal to the overflow depth or the result will be incorrect.

The total volume of pipe and media (V_t) that can hold water is given by

\( (D_O + D_M) * L_B * W_B \)

where

D_M is the depth of media below the pipes (ft);

L_B is the length of the underground basin (ft); and

W_B is the width of the underground basin (ft).

The volume of the media (V_M) equals the difference between the total volume and the volume in the pipes (V_t - V_pipes, in cubic feet. The volume of water stored in the media is equal to V_M times the porosity. The Excel spreadsheet calculates the amount of water stored in media below the pipes and in media adjacent to the pipes, but this differentiation is not needed if the porosity of all media is the same.

The above calculations are limited to pipes with a single turn.

Other methods for calculating volumes

The volumes needed for entry into the MIDS calculator can be calculated in other ways, or they may be included in the manufacturer specifications.

Example applications of the Excel spreadsheet

The following examples utilized the Excel spreadsheet to generate inputs for the MIDS calculator.

Example for circular pipes

Schematic for the underground system utilizing circular pipes. Click on image to enlarge.

Screen shot of Excel spreadhseet showing example for calculating volumes needed for the MIDS calculator.

Screen shot showing where the values from the excel spreadsheet are entered into the MIDS calculator.

Assume an underground infiltration systems consists of 5 half-circle pipes, 50 feet in length and 10 feet in diameter. The pipes rest on an engineered media layer that is 2 feet thick. The bottoms of the outflow pipes are located 3 feet above the surface of the engineered media. The pipes sit in a basin that is 60 feet wide and 60 feet long. The porosity of the media is 0.35 cubic centimeters per cubic centimeter. The screen shot to the left shows the schematic for this example. The top image to the right illustrates the Excel spreadsheet used to make the calculations. The lower screen shot illustrates where the Excel calculations should be entered into the MIDS calculator.

Ensure the other values used in the Excel spreadsheet match the values input into the calculator. Note that the pipe storage volume, V_p, includes water stored in pipes, water stored in media beneath the pipes, and water stored in media adjacent to the pipes and above the engineered media. In this example, the bulk of water is stored in the pipes. In this example, there may be up to 2 feet of additional water collected above the outflow pipe. This water must leave the underground system within 48 hours, presumably through the outflow. See the section on bounce for more information.

Note that the MIDS calculator uses a single value for media porosity. This is for the media below the pipes. The Excel spreadsheet allows the user to specify different media porosities adjacent to and below the pipes. The Excel spreadsheet does not calculate water stored in media beneath the pipes but provides the media surface area, which is needed to calculate water storage in the media.

Example for rectangular pipes

Schematic for the underground system utilizing rectangular pipes. Click on image to enlarge.

Screen shot of Excel spreadhseet showing example for calculating volumes needed for the MIDS calculator.

Screen shot showing where the values from the excel spreadsheet are entered into the MIDS calculator.

Assume an underground infiltration systems consists of 5 rectangular pipes, 50 feet in length and 10 feet wide at the base. The pipes rest on an engineered media layer that is 2 feet thick. The bottoms of the outflow pipes are located 3 feet above the surface of the engineered media. The pipes sit in a basin that is 60 feet wide and 60 feet long. The porosity of the media is 0.35 cubic centimeters per cubic centimeter. The screen shot to the left shows the schematic for this example. The top image to the right illustrates the Excel spreadsheet used to make the calculations. The lower screen shot illustrates where the Excel calculations should be entered into the MIDS calculator.