Soil matrix water table control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9605397-B1
Application number	US-201414172457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2014
Priority date	Feb 4, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

An improved vegetated buffer water retention system. The current invention can be utilized for both smaller scaled (e.g., residential) purposes or larger scaled (e.g., agricultural, municipal, industrial) purposes. In certain embodiments, the system generally includes a perforated drainage pipe and an overflow controller (e.g., T-shaped member, arched overflow valve apparatus) in open communication with each other. These components allow the system to control the soil matrix water table. With additional valves, pumps, and water reservoirs, the system can control both the soil matrix water table and stored water reuse. The systems can be used not only to enhance plant root uptake and microbial utilization of nutrients and pollutants in water, but also to capture and reuse water inflows, thereby aiding in water conservation and preventing soil erosion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a height of a soil matrix water table in a bioretention area, comprising:
a perforated drainage pipe positioned substantially horizontally underground, said perforated drainage pipe having a distal end and a proximal end; and
an overflow controller formed of hollow piping directly or indirectly coupled to said proximal end of said perforated drainage pipe, said overflow controller in open communication with said perforated drainage pipe such that water can follow a path of travel from an interior of said perforated drainage pipe to an interior of said overflow controller, said overflow controller having a vertical component that has an apex that sets said height of said soil matrix water table, said overflow controller being an arched overflow valve apparatus,
wherein said perforated drainage pipe is coupled to said overflow controller substantially beneath a soil berm separating said bioretention area and a neighboring area, with said overflow controller positioned within said neighboring area,
said overflow controller including a horizontally-oriented piping disposed beneath said vertical component and said apex of said overflow controller, said perforated drainage pipe coupled to said horizontally-oriented piping, said horizontally-oriented piping in open communication with said vertical component, such that water follows a path of travel from said horizontally-oriented piping and into said vertical component to said apex of said overflow controller to set said height of said soil matrix water table, said overflow controller including a venting aperture disposed in said apex of said overflow controller.

2. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
said overflow controller indirectly coupled to said perforated drainage pipe;
a solid drainage pipe secured to said proximal end of said perforated drainage pipe, said overflow controller coupled to a proximal end of said solid drainage pipe, such that the respective interiors of said perforated drainage pipe, said solid drainage pipe, and said overflow controller are in open communication with each other.

3. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a liner disposed in underlying relation to said perforated drainage pipe.

4. A system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
said arched overflow valve apparatus including a vertically-oriented arch, a shut-off valve, a system drain, and said horizontally-oriented piping,
wherein said horizontally-oriented piping forms a diameter of said vertically-oriented arch and is in open communication with said vertically-oriented arch,
said horizontally-oriented piping disposed substantially orthogonal to a length of said perforated drainage pipe, wherein said system drain is in direct communication with said vertically-oriented arch and said horizontally-oriented piping, such that water follows a path of travel from said perforated drainage pipe, into said horizontally-oriented piping, and into said vertically-oriented arch,
wherein when said shut-off valve is in a closed position, water follows a path of travel from said perforated drainage pipe into said arch and into said system drain when said water accumulates in said arch beyond an apex of said arch, and when said shut-off valve is in an open position, said perforated drainage pipe is in open communication with said system drain so said water follows a path of travel from said perforated drainage pipe into said system drain,
wherein said apex of said arch sets said height of said water table, such that said height of said water table can also be adjusted by tilting said arch.

5. A system as in claim 4 , wherein:
said shut-off valve is positioned along said piping.

6. A system for controlling a height of a soil matrix water table in a bioretention area, comprising:
a perforated drainage pipe positioned substantially horizontally underground, said perforated drainage pipe having a distal end and a proximal end; and
an arched overflow valve apparatus formed of hollow piping directly or indirectly coupled to said proximal end of said perforated drainage pipe, said arched overflow valve apparatus being in open communication with said perforated drainage pipe such that water can follow a path of travel from an interior of said perforated drainage pipe to an interior of said arched overflow valve apparatus, said arched overflow valve apparatus having a height or apex that sets said height of said soil matrix water table,
wherein said perforated drainage pipe is coupled to said arched overflow valve apparatus substantially beneath a soil berm dividing said bioretention area and a neighboring area, with said arched overflow valve apparatus positioned within said neighboring area,
said arched overflow valve apparatus including a vertically-oriented arch, horizontally-oriented piping forming a diameter of said vertically-oriented arch and being in open communication with said vertically-oriented arch, a venting aperture disposed in said apex of said vertically-oriented arch, a shut-off valve, and a system drain, wherein said arched overflow valve apparatus is manually-operated or automated,
said horizontally-oriented piping disposed substantially orthogonal to a length of said perforated drainage pipe, wherein said perforated drainage pipe is coupled to said horizontally-oriented piping and said system drain is in direct communication with said vertically-oriented arch and said horizontally-oriented piping, such that water follows a path of travel from said perforated drainage pipe, into said horizontally-oriented piping, and into said vertically-oriented arch,
wherein when said shut-off valve is in a closed position, water follows a path of travel from said perforated drainage pipe into said arch and into said system drain when said water accumulates in said arch beyond an apex of said arch, and when said shut-off valve is in an open position, said perforated drainage pipe is in open communication with said system drain so said water follows a path of travel from said perforated drainage pipe into said system drain,
wherein said apex of said arch sets said height of said water table, such that said height of said water table can also be adjusted by tilting said arch.

7. A system as in claim 6 , further comprising:
horizontally-oriented piping disposed in open communication with said perforated drainage pipe and in substantially perpendicular relation to said perforated drainage pipe, wherein said shut-off valve is positioned along said piping.

8. A system as in claim 6 , further comprising:
a first end post positioned at a junction between one end of said horizontally-oriented piping and one end of said vertically-oriented arch; and
a second end post positioned at a junction between an opposite end of said horizontally-oriented piping and an opposite end of said vertically-oriented arch.

Assignees

• Florida A&M Univ

Inventors

• Cherrier Jennifer
• Bolques Alejandro
• Abazinge Michael

Classifications

• E02B11/005 Primary

  Drainage conduits · CPC title

• E02B13/00

  Irrigation ditches, i.e. gravity flow, open channel water distribution systems ({retaining waterborne material in irrigation canals E02B5/085}; other distribution systems for watering or spraying gardens, fields, sports grounds, or the like, A01G25/00; {built-in irrigation means for sports grounds E01C13/083}) · CPC title

• E03F5/103

  Naturals or landscape retention bodies, e.g. ponds · CPC title