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1 INFILTRATION BASIN

Type of BMP LID ‐ Infiltration

Treatment Mechanisms Infiltration, Evapotranspiration (when vegetated), Evaporation, and

Sedimentation

Maximum Treatment Area 50 acres

Other Names Bioinfiltration Basin

Description

An Infiltration Basin is a flat earthen basin

designed to capture the design capture volume,
VBMP. The stormwater infiltrates through the
bottom of the basin into the underlying soil over
a 72 hour drawdown period. Flows exceeding
VBMP must discharge to a downstream
conveyance system. Trash and sediment
accumulate within the forebay as stormwater
passes into the basin. Infiltration basins are
highly effective in removing all targeted Figure 1 – Infiltration Basin
pollutants from stormwater runoff.
See Appendix A, and Appendix C, Section 1 of Basin Guidelines, for additional requirements.

Siting Considerations
The use of infiltration basins may be restricted by concerns over ground water contamination,
soil permeability, and clogging at the site. See the applicable WQMP for any specific feasibility
considerations for using infiltration BMPs. Where this BMP is being used, the soil beneath the
basin must be thoroughly evaluated in a geotechnical report since the underlying soils are
critical to the basin’s long term performance. To protect the basin from erosion, the sides and
bottom of the basin must be vegetated, preferably with native or low water use plant species.
In addition, these basins may not be appropriate for the following site conditions:
 Industrial sites or locations where spills of toxic materials may occur
 Sites with very low soil infiltration rates
 Sites with high groundwater tables or excessively high soil infiltration rates, where
pollutants can affect ground water quality
 Sites with unstabilized soil or construction activity upstream
 On steeply sloping terrain
 Infiltration basins located in a fill condition should refer to Appendix A of this
Handbook for details on special requirements/restrictions

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Setbacks

Always consult your geotechnical engineer for site specific recommendations regarding
setbacks for infiltration trenches. Recommended setbacks are needed to protect buildings,
existing trees, walls, onsite or nearby wells, streams, and tanks. Setbacks should be considered
early in the design process since they can affect where infiltration facilities may be placed and
how deep they are allowed to be. For instance, depth setbacks can dictate fairly shallow
facilities that will have a larger footprint and, in some cases, may make an infiltration basin
infeasible. In that instance, another BMP must be selected.

Infiltration basins typically must be set back:

 10 feet from the historic high groundwater (measured vertically from the bottom of the
basin, as shown in Figure 2)
 5 feet from bedrock or impermeable surface layer (measured vertically from the bottom
of the basin, as shown in Figure 2)
 From all existing mature tree drip lines as indicated in Figure 2 (to protect their root
structure)
 100 feet horizontally from wells, tanks or springs
Setbacks to walls and foundations must be included as part of the Geotechnical Report. All
other setbacks shall be in accordance with applicable standards of the District’s Basin
Guidelines (Appendix C).

Figure 2 – Setback Requirements

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Forebay

A concrete forebay shall be provided to reduce sediment clogging and to reduce erosion. The
forebay shall have a design volume of at least 0.5% VBMP and a minimum 1 foot high concrete
splashwall / berm. Full height notch‐type weir(s), offset from the line of flow from the basin
inlet to prevent short circuiting, shall be used to outlet the forebay. It is recommended that
two weirs be used and that they be located on opposite sides of the forebay (see Figure 2).

Overflow

Flows exceeding VBMP must discharge to an acceptable downstream conveyance system. Where
an adequate outlet is present, an overflow structure may be used. Where an embankment is
present, an emergency spillway may be used instead. Overflows must be placed just above the
design water surface for VBMP and be near the outlet of the system. The overflow structure shall
be similar to the District’s Standard Drawing CB 110. Additional details may be found in the
District’s Basin Guidelines (Appendix C).

Figure 3 – Infiltration Basin

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Landscaping Requirements
Basin vegetation provides erosion protection, improves sediment removal and assists in
allowing infiltration to occur. The basin surface and side slopes shall be planted with native
grasses. Proper landscape management is also required to ensure that the vegetation does not
contribute to water pollution through pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Landscaping shall be
in accordance with County of Riverside Ordinance 859 and the District’s Basin Guidelines
(Appendix C), or other guidelines issued by the Engineering Authority.

Maintenance
Normal maintenance of an infiltration basin includes the maintenance of landscaping, debris
and trash removal from the surface of the basin, and tending to problems associated with
standing water (vectors, odors, etc.). Significant ponding, especially more than 72 hours after
an event, may indicate that the basin surface is no longer providing sufficient infiltration and
requires aeration. See the District’s Basin Guidelines (Appendix C) for additional requirements
(i.e., fencing, maintenance access, etc.).
Table 1 ‐ Inspection and Maintenance

Schedule Inspection and Maintenance Activity

 Maintain vegetation as needed. Use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides should
be strenuously avoided to ensure they don’t contribute to water pollution. If
appropriate native plant selections and other IPM methods are used, such products
shouldn’t be needed. If such projects are used,
o Products shall be applied in accordance with their labeling, especially
in relation to application to water, and in areas subjected to flooding.
Ongoing including just o Fertilizers should not be applied within 15 days before, after, or
before annual storm during the rain season.
seasons and following  Remove debris and litter from the entire basin to minimize clogging and improve
rainfall events. aesthetics.
 Check for obvious problems and repair as needed. Address odor, insects, and
overgrowth issues associated with stagnant or standing water in the basin bottom.
There should be no long‐term ponding water.
 Check for erosion and sediment laden areas in the basin. Repair as needed. Clean
forebay if needed.
 Revegetate side slopes where needed.
 Inspection of hydraulic and structural facilities. Examine the inlet for blockage, the
embankment and spillway integrity, as well as damage to any structural element.
 Check for erosion, slumping and overgrowth. Repair as needed.
 Check basin depth for sediment build up and reduced total capacity. Scrape bottom
Annually. If possible, as needed and remove sediment. Restore to original cross‐section and infiltration
schedule these inspections rate. Replant basin vegetation.
within 72 hours after a  Verify the basin bottom is allowing acceptable infiltration. Use a disc or other
significant rainfall. method to aerate basin bottom only if there is actual significant loss of infiltrative
capacity, rather than on a routine basis1.
 No water should be present 72 hours after an event. No long term standing water
should be present at all. No algae formation should be visible. Correct problem as
needed.
1. CA Stormwater BMP Handbook for New Development and Significant Redevelopment

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Table 2 ‐ Design and Sizing Criteria for Infiltration Basins

Design Parameter Infiltration Basin

Design Volume VBMP
Forebay Volume 0.5% VBMP
Drawdown time (maximum) 72 hours
Maximum tributary area 50 acres 2
Must be sufficient to drain the basin within the
required Drawdown time over the life of the BMP.
Minimum infiltration rate
The WQMP may include specific requirements for
minimum tested infiltration rates.
Maximum Depth 5 feet
Spillway erosion control Energy dissipators to reduce velocities1
Basin Slope 0%
Freeboard (minimum) 1 foot 1
Historic High Groundwater Setback (max) 10 feet
Bedrock/impermeable layer setback (max) 5 feet
Tree setbacks Mature tree drip line must not overhang the basin
Set back from wells, tanks or springs 100 feet
Set back from foundations As recommended in Geotechnical Report
1. Ventura County’s Technical Guidance Manual for Stormwater Quality Control Measures
2. CA Stormwater BMP Handbook for New Development and Significant Redevelopment
Note: The information contained in this BMP Factsheet is intended to be a summary of design
considerations and requirements. Additional information which applies to all detention basins may
be found in the District’s Basin Guidelines (Appendix C). In addition, information herein may be
superseded by other guidelines issued by the co‐permittee.

INFILTRATION BASIN SIZING PROCEDURE

1. Find the Design Volume, VBMP.

a) Enter the Tributary Area, AT.
b) Enter the Design Volume, VBMP, determined from Section 2.1 of this Handbook.
2. Determine the Maximum Depth.
a) Enter the infiltration rate. The infiltration rate shall be established as described in
Appendix A: “Infiltration Testing”.
b) Enter the design Factor of Safety from Table 1 in Appendix A: “Infiltration Testing”.
c) The spreadsheet will determine D1, the maximum allowable depth of the basin based on
the infiltration rate along with the maximum drawdown time (72 hours) and the Factor
of Safety.
D1 = [(t) x (I)] / 12s

Where I = site infiltration rate (in/hr)

s = safety factor
t = drawdown time (maximum 72 hours)

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d) Enter the depth of freeboard.
e) Enter the depth to the historic high groundwater level measured from the top of the
basin.
f) Enter the depth to the top of bedrock or other impermeable layer measured from the
finished grade.
g) The spreadsheet will determine D2, the total basin depth (including freeboard, if used)
of the basin, based on restrictions to the depth by groundwater and an impermeable
layer.
D2 = Depth to groundwater – (10 + freeboard) (ft);
or
D2 = Depth to impermeable layer – (5 + freeboard) (ft)
Whichever is least.

h) The spreadsheet will determine the maximum allowable effective depth of basin, DMAX,
based on the smallest value between D1 and D2. DMAX is the maximum depth of water
only and does not include freeboard. DMAX shall not exceed 5 feet.

3. Basin Geometry

a) Enter the basin side slopes, z (no steeper than 4:1).

b) Enter the proposed basin depth, dB excluding freeboard.
c) The spreadsheet will determine the minimum required surface area of the basin:

As = VBMP / dB

Where As = minimum area required (ft2)

VBMP = volume of the infiltration basin (ft3)
dB= proposed depth not to exceed maximum allowable depth, DMAX (ft)

d) Enter the proposed bottom surface area. This area shall not be less than the minimum
required surface area.

4. Forebay
A concrete forebay with a design volume of at least 0.5% VBMP and a minimum 1 foot high
concrete splashwall shall be provided. Full‐height rectangular weir(s) shall be used to outlet
the forebay. The weir(s) must be offset from the line of flow from the basin inlet. It is
recommended that two weirs be used and that they be located on opposite sides of the
forebay (see Figure 2).

a) The spreadsheet will determine the minimum required forebay volume based on 0.5%
VBMP.
b) Enter the proposed depth of the forebay berm/splashwall (1foot minimum).
c) The spreadsheet will determine the minimum required forebay surface area.
d) Enter the width of rectangular weir to be used (minimum 1.5 inches). Weir width should
be established based on a 5 minute drawdown time.

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