Implementing Dry Wells and Recollection Units in Series to Remove Excess Runoff

• Rogelio Argueta
• Jose Gutierrez
• Santiago Realmo

Advisors: Francisco Martinez; Dr. Joseph Schulenberg

Drainage systems are important for the maintenance of structures that are subject to high volumes of precipitation. In Illinois, annual precipitation levels have been increasing in recent times. Though this may not be a problem everywhere, it can become a major issue in places with drainage systems incapable of getting rid of excess rainwater.

The Progredi Group LLC is facing constant flooding on a gravel driveway, near a barn, due to an existing inefficient drainage system. Gravel driveways may be able to deal with the direct runoff of rain on their own. However, in this case, the accumulated water exceeds the draining capacity of the gravel.

A plethora of solutions exists to deal with excess runoff, including the use of dry wells. A dry well is a subsurface storage system that temporarily stores stormwater runoff and dissipates the runoff into the surrounding soil over time. The team chose the implementation of a dry well to accomplish a reduction of runoff accumulated in undesired locations at the site.

In order to obtain better results, an extreme precipitation scenario was assumed to begin the design process. The dry well design was based on the infiltration rate of the surrounding soils, and the location was designated according to the existing construction requirements and specifications. Although the dry well decreases the amount of rainwater discharge, the team also considered implementing a filtration system to recollect a portion of the excess runoff. The incorporation of these additions to the existing roof drainage system to prevent the risk of flooding in the driveway.

See supporting documentation in the team’s Box drive.