Stormwater Planting Bed Filtration With Capillary Root Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stormwater runoff management systems face challenges in maintaining plant growth during dry periods without supplemental irrigation, which is costly and inconsistent with green infrastructure objectives, and wicking systems using polluted stormwater runoff can lead to anaerobic conditions and clogging due to fines.
Innovation Solution
A stormwater collection system with a planting bed containing a collection chamber beneath the root zone, utilizing capillary feed paths and wick elements to deliver treated stormwater to plant roots, preventing fine transport and enhancing water storage and delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If supplemental irrigation is provided to maintain plant growth during dry periods, then plant health is maintained, but operational cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive capillary wicking to automatically transport water from the collection chamber to the plant root zone without external energy input. The capillary action in the wick material creates a self-sustaining irrigation mechanism that maintains plant health during dry periods without requiring pumps, motors, or external power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Stormwater is captured and stored in the collection chamber beneath the root zone before it is needed during dry periods. This preliminary water harvesting and storage allows the system to have water readily available for passive wicking delivery when plants require irrigation, eliminating the need for active irrigation during critical periods.
2Quantity of substance
If wicking systems use polluted stormwater runoff directly, then water availability is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to anaerobic conditions and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water storage and delivery function into two separate components: the collection chamber for water storage and the capillary wick for water delivery. This segmentation allows the wick to be protected from direct contact with polluted stormwater in the collection chamber, preventing clogging while still providing water to plants through capillary action from the stored water.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary wick acts as an intermediary between the polluted stormwater in the collection chamber and the plant root zone. The wick selectively absorbs and transports water while excluding fines and pollutants through its capillary structure, delivering clean water to plants without direct exposure to contaminants that would cause clogging or anaerobic conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides sustainable irrigation using harvested stormwater, reduces greenhouse emissions, and maintains plant health by ensuring consistent water supply while preventing anaerobic conditions and clogging, aligning with green infrastructure principles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one capillary feed path for delivering water from external of the collection volume into the collection volume
Implementation Method 2
at least one wick element extends from within the collection volume and up through the conduit
Implementation Method 3
the use of plant vegetation to transpirate soil moisture and gain benefit from the plant soils interactions in the root zone
Data Source
AI summary
A stormwater collection system includes a planting bed containing live plant matter, and at least one collection chamber located within the planting bed and beneath or within the root zone of the live plant matter. The collection chamber defines a collection volume. The system includes one or more of (i) the collection chamber having a top side configured to define an initial collection zone for stormwater that infiltrates down through the planting bed, (ii) a capillary feed path to deliver stormwater into the collection chamber or (iii) a wick element that extends upward from the collection chamber within a pipe and into the root zone.