Category:Level 3 - Best management practices/Structural practices/Infiltration (trench/basin)

Category:Level 3 - Best management practices/Structural practices/Infiltration (trench/basin)

Photo of a Infiltration trench in Lino Lakes

Main page for infiltration practices

Stormwater infiltration is the process by which rainfall and stormwater runoff flows into and through the subsurface soil. Stormwater infiltration occurs when rainfall lands on pervious surfaces, when runoff flows across pervious surfaces, and when runoff is collected and directed to a stormwater infiltration Best Management Practice (BMP).

Current stormwater management policies encourage, when appropriate, maximizing the infiltration of stormwater to reduce the volume of runoff discharging to surface waters. In addition to reducing runoff volume, stormwater infiltration helps reduce stormwater pollutant loading to surface waters. Many factors influence the rate and volume of stormwater infiltration, including soil and rainfall characteristics. Once stormwater infiltrates into the soil, it has the potential to enter the groundwater, become part of the subsurface flow, or be taken up by vegetation.

For the purposes of this manual, infiltration BMPs are considered BMPs without underdrains.

This page provides links to pages that provide information on infiltration practices.