Analysis of storm-water infiltration ponds on the North Carolina Outer Banks

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:5243164

Chescheir, G M; Fipps, G; Skaggs, R W

Increasing development along the North Carolina coast has been linked to the deterioration of water quality in adjacent sounds and estuaries. Degradation of water quality in sounds and estuaries threatens the coastal ecology which provides resources for the area's fishing and tourism industries. The state of N.C. adopted the current Stormwater Runoff Disposal Rules in 1988 requiring stormwater management plans for new development in 20 coastal counties. Stormwater infiltration pond systems are approved by the State as an option for retaining stormwater on the developed site; however, the long-term performance of these systems has not been measured or determined. The study was conducted to monitor the hydrology of stormwater infiltration ponds on the North Carolina barrier islands and to develop a model that continuously simulates the performance of these ponds. The hydrology of two operating infiltration ponds systems was evaluated in an 18-month field study. Rainfall, pond stage, and water table elevations at selected locations were monitored continuously. Water table elevations at additional locations were monitored on a biweekly basis. Soil hydraulic conductivities and soil water characteristic relationships were determined at both field sites. The subsurface geology was described at one site and an aquifer pump test was performed to determine aquifer transmissivity and specific yield. Both of the infiltration ponds in the field studies effectively served their primary purpose of retaining on site the stormwater runoff from the first 38 mm (1.5 in) of rainfall. In nearly every case, the pond seepage rate was sufficient to completely draw down the pond within 5 days. The hydrology of the infiltration ponds at the two research sites was very different.

• Research Organization: North Carolina Water Resources Research Inst., Raleigh, NC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5243164
• Report Number(s): PB-92-183789/XAB; UNC-WRRI--90-254
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
COASTAL REGIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISASTERS
DRAWDOWN
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ESTUARIES
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
POLLUTION
PONDS
RUNOFF
SIMULATION
SOILS
STORMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WATER TABLES