Bias of stormwater infiltration measurement methods evaluated using numerical experiments

Abstract Infiltration stormwater control measures (SCMs) have the potential to contribute towards mitigating effects of urbanization on downstream receiving waters. SCMs are most often successful when in‐situ saturated hydraulic conductivity ( K sat ) is well characterized. In this paper numerical solutions Richards’ equation used quantify bias seven infiltration measurement methods, removing natural variability and random error from analysis. The methods evaluated in study include double ring infiltrometer, Saturo modified Philip–Dunne Turf‐Tec IN2‐W USBR 7300‐89 permeameter, Guelph permeameter. Seven homogenous, isotropic soil textures were simulated at four initial moistures for resulting a total 196 simulations. dimensionless defined as “measured” determined by given method divided input experiments. quotations identify occurs numeric experiment rather than physical experiment. sand through silt loam soils that typical SCMs, range 0.7–6.2. was only infiltrometer produced >2.5 these soils. Initial effective saturation had minimal contribution methods. Methods rely one‐dimensional (1D) flow assumption consistently overestimated . Borehole results with similar surface Long duration did not produce more accurate short