Systems and methods for underground storage of storm and other water sources

Abstract

In various embodiments, the disclosure relates to a system for locating storm and/or waste water to a subsurface region. The system can be sized to replace, in some instances, retention ponds and to increase developable square footage on a region of land. The system can include a conduit for directing a volume of storm and/or waste water to a subsurface region located at least as deep as the aquifer layer. The system can be sized to handle a volume of water generated during a 100 year storm. In certain embodiments, the subsurface region is located directly below a land structure (e.g., a building structure).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for directing water to a subsurface region, comprising:
 a network comprising two or more wells, each well comprising:
 a conduit for directing a volume of water to a subsurface region located below a land surface, the subsurface region being formed from an earth surface adapted to contact the water and having a hydraulic conductivity of at least 10 −5  cm/s, 
   wherein an upper portion of the subsurface region is located at a distance of at least 10 feet below the land surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one trench fluidically coupled to the network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one trench has a depth of about 6 feet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one trench has an exfiltration capacity of about 6 gallons per minute (gpm). 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network is fluidically connected to a central connector. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the central connector connects the two or more wells. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a well of the two or more wells is a drainage well. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface region is located in a ground layer of bedrock. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is in fluidic communication with a combination of at least a trench and at least a well. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more wells of the network are positioned around a perimeter of a land structure. 
     
     
         11 . A method of directing water to a subsurface region, comprising:
 directing a volume of water through a network, the network comprising two or more wells, each well comprising:
 a conduit for directing a volume of water to a subsurface region located below a land surface, the subsurface region being formed from an earth surface adapted to contact the water and having a hydraulic conductivity of at least 10 −5  cm/s; and 
   wherein an upper portion of the subsurface region is located at a distance of at least 10 feet below the land surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one trench fluidically coupled to the network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one trench has a depth of about 6 feet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one trench has an exfiltration capacity of about 6 gallons per minute (gpm). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the network is fluidically connected to a central connector. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the central connector connects the two or more wells. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a well of the two or more wells is a drainage well. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subsurface region is located in a ground layer of bedrock. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the conduit is in fluidic communication with a combination of at least a trench and at least a well. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more wells of the network are positioned around a perimeter of a land structure. 
     
     
         21 . A system for directing water to a subsurface region, the system comprising:
 a network comprising two or more drainage wells, each well comprising:
 a conduit for directing a volume of water to a subsurface region below a land surface, the subsurface region being formed from an earth surface adapted to contact the water and having a hydraulic conductivity of at least 10 −5  cm/s, 
   wherein the conduit is adapted to handle fluid volume flows generated during a 100 year storm.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a well of the two or more wells is a drainage well.