Methods of determining
infiltration
Methods of determining infiltration
1. Infiltrometers
2. Observation in pits and ponds
3. Placing a catch basin below a laboratory sample
4. Artificial rain simulators
5. Hydrograph analysis
Infiltrometer
An infiltrometer is a device, such as the minidisk
infiltrometer, used to measure the rate at which water
infiltrates into soil under a specific suction or tension,
allowing for the determination of soil hydraulic
conductivity.
Observation in Pits and Ponds
By noting the depression in
the level of water in the pits
and ponds and deducting
the loss due to evaporation,
an idea about the
infiltration rates in such
soils can be obtained.
Placing a catch basin below a laboratory
sample
A catch basin collects infiltrated water
to accurately measure infiltration rates
and analyze soil properties without
loss or error.
Artificial Rain Simulators
We use artificial rain simulators to
determine infiltration because they allow
us to create controlled rain conditions,
helping us measure how water soaks into
the soil in a consistent and repeatable
way.
Hydrograph Analysis
We use hydrograph analysis to see how
much water goes into the ground
(infiltration) compared to how much flows
on the surface after it rains.
Infiltration Rate