Modeling Sedimentation-Filtration Basins for Urban Watersheds Using Soil and Water Assessment Tool

AbstractSedimentation-filtration (SedFil) basins are one of the storm-water best management practices (BMPs) that are intended to mitigate water quality problems in urban creeks and rivers. A new physically based model of variably saturated flows was developed for simulating flow and sediment in SedFils within the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The integrated SWAT-SedFil model allows for simulation of unsaturated flow in the filtration basin during small storms and fully saturated flow. Unsaturated flow was modeled using a modified Green and Ampt equation, and saturated flow was simulated with Darcy’s Law. Unsaturated flow comprises only a small fraction of large storm events; however, many regular storms are small and may not generate sufficient runoff to create a saturated flow in the filtration basin. Therefore, the combined unsaturated/saturated flow approach for modeling SedFils improved the accuracy of the model, especially in long-term evaluations. The model performs well with respect to es...

[1]  Jeffrey G. Arnold,et al.  Soil and Water Assessment Tool Theoretical Documentation Version 2009 , 2011 .

[2]  T. A. McMahon,et al.  Modelling runoff and diffuse pollution loads in urban areas , 1999 .

[3]  Ned H. C. Hwang,et al.  Fundamentals of Hydraulic Engineering Systems , 1987 .

[5]  Michael E. Barrett,et al.  Performance, Cost, and Maintenance Requirements of Austin Sand Filters , 2003 .

[6]  Jeong-Jae Lee,et al.  Hydrological Impacts of Urban Imperviousness in White Rock Creek Watershed , 2011 .

[7]  A. H. Elliott,et al.  A review of models for low impact urban stormwater drainage , 2007, Environ. Model. Softw..

[8]  Curtis L. Larson,et al.  Modeling infiltration during a steady rain , 1973 .

[9]  Raghavan Srinivasan,et al.  Development of Sub-Daily Erosion and Sediment Transport Algorithms for SWAT , 2011 .

[10]  Larry A. Roesner,et al.  Are Best-Management-Practice Criteria Really Environmentally Friendly? , 2001 .

[11]  Ben R. Urbonas,et al.  Design of a Sand Filter for Stormwater Quality Enhancement , 1999 .

[12]  D. C. Mays,et al.  Hydrodynamic aspects of particle clogging in porous media. , 2005, Environmental science & technology.

[13]  Raghavan Srinivasan,et al.  Development and Integration of Sub-hourly Rainfall–Runoff Modeling Capability Within a Watershed Model , 2010 .

[14]  John R. Williams,et al.  LARGE AREA HYDROLOGIC MODELING AND ASSESSMENT PART I: MODEL DEVELOPMENT 1 , 1998 .

[15]  Allen P. Davis,et al.  Urban Particle Capture in Bioretention Media. II: Theory and Model Development , 2008 .

[16]  S. Jd,et al.  WATER POLLUTION ASPECTS OF STREET SURFACE CONTAMINANTS , 1972 .

[17]  Gavin M. Mudd,et al.  A new saturated/unsaturated model for stormwater infiltration systems , 2008 .

[18]  Ming-Han Li,et al.  The effect of urbanization on stream hydrology in hillslope watersheds in central Texas , 2010 .

[19]  Seth Rose,et al.  Effects of urbanization on streamflow in the Atlanta area (Georgia, USA): a comparative hydrological approach , 2001 .

[20]  Charles R. O'Melia,et al.  Water and waste water filtration. Concepts and applications , 1971 .