Infiltration investigations

An infiltration study measures how quickly water can sink into the soil. In new construction sites, the goal is to infiltrate rainwater locally as much as possible as part of sustainability measures, rather than discharging it into the sewer system. But not every soil is suitable for this.

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Rainwater

What is an infiltration investigation?

An infiltration study measures how quickly water can sink into the ground. In new construction, developers are often required to treat rainwater from pavements locally. We determine whether the soil is suitable for this.

In the design of wadis (shallow lowlands where water infiltrates)
When dimensioning infiltration channels
In new construction projects with a rainwater collection system

Veldmedewerkers van Buro Antares met meetkarretje voor bodemonderzoek in een weiland

Our approach

Two measurement methods

Above and below the groundwater, often combined with soil research.

01. Aardvark method

For the unsaturated zone, above the groundwater. We let water slowly drain into the soil and measure how fast it does so. A computer program calculates the permeability based on the measurement data.

02. Hanging method

For the saturated zone, below the groundwater. We extract water from the soil and measure how quickly it seeps out. This provides insight into the permeability of deeper soil layers.

03. Combination with soil research

We often combine the infiltration investigation with exploratory soil testing during the same phase. This saves field work, lead time, and costs, and reduces the inconvenience on-site.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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Who requests an infiltration investigation?

Municipalities, project developers and contractors who have to deal with rainwater during development or reconstruction. Often it is civil engineering consulting firms that use our measurement data for their designs.

What if the soil does not infiltrate well?

Then that is an important consideration for the design. Wadi and infiltration ditches must then be sized larger, or an alternative must be chosen such as water retention.

How long does the investigation take?

The fieldwork itself is usually completed in a day. The report follows within a few working days.