StormwaterDesignExample:SandFilter

SANDFILTERDESIGNEXAMPLE
ThisexampledescribesindetailthedesignofasandfiltertotreatstormwaterrunofffromtheBrownCivic
Center(Figure1).Thefiltermustmeetthefollowingdesigncriteria:
ProvideRecharge
TreattheWaterQualityVolume

SiteSpecificData:
ExistinggroundelevationatBMPlocationis22.0feet,meansealevel.Soilboringobservationsrevealthat
theseasonallyhighwatertableisat13.0feet.Adjacentcreekinvertisat12.0'.Hydrologyanalysesresults
areinTable1.
Step1.ComputeWaterQualityVolume:
WQvpreviouslydeterminedtobe6,752cubicfeet(Table2).

Step2.Determineavailablehead(SeeFigure2).
Lowpointatparkinglotis23.5'.Subtract2'topassQ10discharge(21.5)andahalffootforchanneltofacility
(21.0).Lowpointatstreaminvertis12.0'.Setoutfallunderdrainpipe2'abovestreaminvertandadd0.5'to
thisvaluefordrain(14.5).Addtothisvalue8"forthegravelblanketovertheunderdrains,and18"forthe
sandbed(16.67).Thetotalavailableheadis21.016.67or4.33feet.Therefore,theallowabledepth(2)(hf)
=4.33',andhf=2.17'.

Step3.ComputeRechargeVolume:
Thissurfacesandfilterdesignwillhavean"openbottom"sedimentationbasintoallowgroundwater
recharge.Theexactdimensionswillbesizedlater,butthevolumestoredwithinthesedimentchambermust
atleastbe1,688cubicfeet.
Step4.ComputeWQvpeakdischarge(qp):
ComputemodifiedCNfor1"rainfall(Note:InthisexampletheWQvcorrespondstotherunofffroma1"
storm.)
P=1.0"
Q=0.62"
CN=1000/[10+5P+10Q10(Q2+1.25*Q*P)]
=1000/[10+5*1.0+10*0.6210(0.622+1.25*0.62*1.0)]
=95.6
UseCN=96
ForCN=96andtheTc=0.16hours,computetheqpfora1"storm.WiththeCN=96,a1.0"stormwill
produce0.62"ofrunoff.FromTR55,Chapter4,Ia=0.083,thereforeIa/P=0.083/1.0=0.083.FromExhibit
4II(page46ofTR55),qu=900csm/in,andthereforeqp=(900csm/in)(0.62")(3.0ac/640ac/sqmi.)=
2.6cfs.

ThemodifiedcurvenumberapproachadjustsforthefactthatTR55typicallyunderpredictstherunoff
fromsmallstormevents.Thecurvenumberiscalculatedbasedontherunoffvolumecalculatedin
the"SizingOptionsDesignExample".
Step5.Sizeflowdiversionstructure(seeFigure3):
Sizealowfloworificetopass2.6cfswith1.5'ofheadusingtheOrificeequation.
Q=CA(2gh)1/22.6cfs=(0.6)(A)[(2)(32.2ft/s 2)(1.5')]1/2
A=0.44sqft=d2/4:d=0.75'or8.0"use8inches
Sizethe10yearoverflowasfollows:the10yearWSEissetat21.0.Useaconcreteweirtopasstheten
yearflow(14.0cfs)intoagrassedoverflowchannelusingtheWeirequation.Assume2'ofheadtopassthis
event.
Q=CLH3/2
*=3.1(L)(2')1.5
L=1.6'useL=2'0"whichsetsflowdiversionchamberdimension.
Weirwallelev.=19.0.Setlowflowinvertat19.0[1.5'+(0.5*8"*1ft/12")]=17.17.

Step6.Sizefiltrationbedchamber(seeFigure4):
FromtheCityofAustin's1988EnvironmentalCriteriaManual(Darcy'sLaw):+
Af=WQv(df)/[k(hf+df)(tf)]
wheredf=18"(Depthofthefilter)
k=3.5ft/day(Permeabilityofthesand)
hf=2.17'(Averageheadabovethefilter)
tf=40hours(Drawdowntime)

Af=(6,752cubicfeet)(1.5')/[3.5(2.17'+1.5')(40hr/24hr/day)]
Af=473.1sqftusinga2:1ratio,sayfilteris15.5'by30.5'(=473sqft)
Step7.Sizesedimentationchamber
FromDesignCriteriaFilters,(CampHazen),forI<75%:As=0.066(WQv)
As=0.066(6,752cubicft)or445.6sqft
givenawidthof15.5feet,thelengthwillbe445.6'/15.5'or28.75feet(use15.5'x28'9")
Step8.ComputeVmin
Vmin=(WQv)or0.75(6,752cubicfeet)=5,064cubicfeet
SeeDesignCriteriaFilters.Typically,thevolumewithinthepracticecanbelessthanthetotalwater
qualityvolumeforfilterdesigns.

Step9.Computevolumewithinpractice:
Volumewithinfilterbed(Vf):Vf=Af(df)(n)n=0.4forsand(Porosity)
Vf=(473sqft)(1.5')(0.4)=284cubicfeet
temporarystorageabovefilterbed(Vftemp):Vftemp=2hfAf
Vftemp=2(2.17')(473sqft)=2053cubicfeet
Computeremainingvolumeforsedimentationchamber(Vs):
Vs=Vmin[Vf+Vftemp]or5,064[284+2053]=2,727cubicfeet
computeheightinsedimentationchamber(hs):hs=Vs/As
(2,727cubicft)/(15.5'x28.75')=6.12'whichislargerthantheheadavailable(4.33')increasethesizeofthe
settlingchamber,using4.33'asthedesignheight
(2727cubicft)/4.33'=630sqft630/15.5'yieldsalengthof40.6feet(say40')
newsedimentationchamberdimensionsare15.5'by40'
checkrechargerequirements:withadequatepreparationofthebottomofthesettlingchamber(rototillearth,
placegravel,thensurgestone),thebottomwillinfiltratewaterintothesubstrate.Notethatrunoffwillenter
thegroundwaterdirectlywithouttreatment.Thisstonewilleventuallyclogwithoutprotectionfromsettling
solidssousearemovablegeotextiletofacilitatemaintenance.NotethatVs=2,727cubicfeetwhichis
greaterthantherechargerequirementof1,688cubicfeet.Alsonotethatthereis2.17'offreeboardbetween
bottomofrechargefilterandwatertable.
Often,adepthofatleast2'isrequiredbetweenthepracticebottomandthewatertable.SeeDesign
CriteriaFilters

Step10.Computeoverflowweirsizes
Fromsedimentchamber(sizetopass2/3ofWQvpeakdischarge)
0.67(2.6cfs)=1.7cfs

Fromfiltrationchamber(sizetopass1/3ofWQvpeakdischarge)
0.33(2.6cfs)=0.9cfs
SeeFigure5forSitePlanView.