Modular Stormwater Storage System

Abstract

The invention provides modular units, associated component parts, and assemblies of the modular units and component parts, including storage and filtration systems, that are useful for making and using underground water management systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular unit for use in underground water management systems comprising:
 (a) a top slab;   (b) four walls descending substantially orthogonally from the top slab, wherein at least one wall comprises at least one rounded side opening; and   (c) a bottom slab adjoining the four walls and comprising a rounded bottom opening; wherein the top slab, four walls, and bottom slab comprise a single continuous surface.   
     
     
         2 . The modular unit of  claim 1 , wherein each of two opposing walls comprises a rounded side opening and the rounded side openings on opposing walls are aligned to form a channel for fluid flow. 
     
     
         3 . The modular unit of  claim 2 , wherein each of two opposing walls comprises a plurality of rounded side openings and the rounded side openings on opposing walls are correspondingly aligned to form a plurality of channels for fluid flow. 
     
     
         4 . The modular unit of  claim 1 , wherein each of two adjacent walls comprises at least one rounded opening. 
     
     
         5 . The modular unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one wall comprises a plurality of rounded side openings. 
     
     
         6 . The modular unit of  claim 5 , further comprising an interior wall descending substantially orthogonally from the top slab, wherein the interior wall comprises an interior opening in the modular unit. 
     
     
         7 . The modular unit of  claim 5 , further comprising an interior wall extending substantially orthogonally from the bottom slab, wherein the interior wall comprises an interior opening in the modular unit. 
     
     
         8 . The modular unit of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom-most edge of the rounded side opening is disposed above the top-most edge of the bottom slab. 
     
     
         9 . The modular unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a solid shell, wherein said solid shell comprises a single surface that is impermeable to water, and wherein the solid shell covers a hollow core. 
     
     
         10 . A monolithic, arched module component for use in an underground water management system comprising:
 (a) a substantially hexahedronal structure comprising four side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface, wherein adjoining side and top surfaces form top corners in the arched module component; and   (b) a pair of corner pillars extending from adjacent top corners of the arched module component, wherein the corner pillars at least partially define one or more curved openings along a side surface.   
     
     
         11 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 10 , further comprising curved openings along each of two opposite side surfaces, wherein the curved openings on opposite side surfaces are aligned to form a passage for storm water flow. 
     
     
         12 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of curved openings along each of two opposite side surfaces, wherein the curved openings on opposite side surfaces are correspondingly aligned to form a plurality of passages for storm water flow. 
     
     
         13 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 10 , further comprising curved openings along adjacent side surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of curved openings along a side surface. 
     
     
         15 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 14 , further comprising an interior surface descending substantially orthogonally from the top surface, wherein the interior surface comprises an interior opening in the arched module component. 
     
     
         16 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 14 , further comprising an interior surface extending substantially orthogonally from the bottom surface, wherein the interior surface comprises an interior opening in the arched module component. 
     
     
         17 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom-most edge of the curved opening along a side surface is disposed above the top-most edge of the bottom surface. 
     
     
         18 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 10 , further comprising a solid shell, wherein said solid shell comprises a single surface that is impermeable to water, and wherein the solid shell covers a substantially hollow core. 
     
     
         19 . The monolithic, arched module component of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom surface comprises a substantially circular opening. 
     
     
         20 . An underground water management system comprising an assembly of modular units, wherein each modular unit comprises a substantially hexahedronal one-piece structure comprising: one or more curved openings in one or more sides and a substantially hollow, interior volume, and further wherein at least one side of each of said modular units abuts at least one side of an adjacent modular unit such that the openings in the sides of the adjacent units substantially align, thereby forming a passage between adjacent units. 
     
     
         21 . The underground water management system of  claim 20 , wherein the assembly is surrounded by an impermeable liner. 
     
     
         22 . The underground water management system of  claim 20 , wherein the assembly is surrounded by a permeable liner. 
     
     
         23 . The underground water management system of  claim 20 , further comprising an inlet pipe passing through an outer side of the system. 
     
     
         24 . The underground water management system of  claim 23 , further comprising an outlet pipe passing through an outer side of the system. 
     
     
         25 . A method for underground storage of storm water comprising the steps of:
 (a) passing fluid through one or more openings of a monolithic, arched module component comprising: a top slab; four walls descending substantially orthogonally from the top slab, wherein at least one wall comprises at least one rounded side opening; a bottom slab adjoining the four walls; and a hollow core;   (b) storing fluid within the hollow core, and   (c) releasing fluid through one or more rounded side openings of the monolithic, arched module component.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein each of two opposing walls comprises a rounded side opening and the rounded side openings on opposing walls are aligned to form a channel for fluid flow. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein each of two opposing walls comprises a plurality of rounded side openings and the rounded side openings on opposing walls are correspondingly aligned to form a plurality of channels for fluid flow. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein each of two adjacent walls comprises at least one rounded side opening. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least one wall comprises a plurality of rounded side openings. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising an interior wall descending substantially orthogonally from the top slab, wherein the interior wall comprises an interior opening in the modular unit. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising an interior wall extending substantially orthogonally from the bottom slab, wherein the interior wall comprises an interior opening in the modular unit. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the bottom-most edge of the rounded side opening is disposed above the top-most edge of the bottom slab. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the bottom slab comprises a rounded opening.