INFILTRATION WELL WORK
Definition of Infiltration Well
Infiltration wells are wells or holes on the ground surface that are made to collect rainwater so that it can seep into the ground. Infiltration wells are the opposite of drinking water wells. Infiltration wells are holes to enter water into the ground, while drinking water wells serve to raise groundwater to the surface. Thus the construction and depth are different. Infiltration wells are dug to a depth above the groundwater level. Drinking water wells are dug deeper or below the groundwater level. (Source : Kusnaedi, 1995)
In simple terms, an infiltration well is defined as a circular well dug. Infiltration wells function to accommodate and absorb rainwater that falls on the ground surface either through building roofs, roads and yards. (Source : Bisri dan Prastya, 2009)
Uses of Infiltration Wells
The decrease in ground water level that has occurred recently can be overcome with the help of infiltration wells. Signs of a decrease in ground water level can be seen in the dryness of wells and springs in the dry season and flooding in the rainy season. Changes in the environment as a result of the development process, in the form of land clearing, forest logging, as well as residential and industrial development, are suspected to have caused this. Such conditions are not favorable for the development of the economy which is actively building. Therefore, serious attention from all parties is needed in flood control efforts and groundwater conservation. One of the strategies or ways to control water, whether to overcome floods or droughts is through infiltration wells. This infiltration well is an effort to increase the infiltration of rainwater into the ground and reduce surface runoff as a cause of flooding. Some of the uses of infiltration wells are as follows: (Source : Kusnaedi, 1995).
- Flood control.
Infiltration wells are able to reduce surface runoff so as to avoid excessive inundation of surface runoff which causes flooding. - Groundwater conservation.
Infiltration wells as groundwater conservation, it is hoped that more rainwater will be absorbed into the ground into reserve water in the soil. The water stored in the soil can be utilized through wells or springs. The infiltration of water through infiltration wells into the ground is very important given the changes in land use on the earth's surface as a consequence of population development and the community's economy. Changes in land use will reduce the ability of the soil to absorb water. This is because more and more land is covered with walls, concrete, asphalt and other buildings that do not absorb water. - Reducing the rate of erosion.
With a decrease in surface runoff, the rate of erosion will also decrease. When runoff decreases, the soils that are eroded and washed away will decrease. As a result, the surface runoff of rainwater is small and erosion will be small. Thus the presence of infiltration wells that are able to suppress the amount of runoff means that it can reduce the rate of erosion.
Factors to Consider
Infiltration wells that are made must meet good technicality. In the plan to build infiltration wells, several factors need to be taken into account, including the following: (Kusnaedi, 1995).
- Climate Factor
Climate is a factor that needs to be considered in the design of infiltration wells. The factor that needs attention is the amount of rainfall. The greater the rainfall in an area, the larger the infiltration wells needed.
Ground water conditions.
In deep groundwater conditions, infiltration wells need to be made on a large scale because the soil really needs water supply from 6 infiltration wells. On the other hand, in areas with shallow water levels, infiltration wells are less effective and will not function properly. Especially in swamp and tidal areas, infiltration wells are less effective. This area requires drainage.- Soil conditions.
The condition of the soil greatly affects the size of the soil's absorption capacity of rainwater. Thus the construction of infiltration wells must consider the physical properties of the soil. Physical properties that directly affect the amount of infiltration (water infiltration) are texture and soil pores. Sandy and porous soils are better able to absorb rainwater quickly. As a result, the time required for rainwater to stay in the infiltration well is relatively short compared to soils with high clay content and are sticky. - Land use
Land use will affect the percentage of water that seeps into the ground by surface runoff. On land that is covered with a lot of concrete buildings, the rainwater that flows on the ground surface will be greater than the water that seeps into the ground. - Social economic conditions of the community
Infiltration well planning must consider the socio-economic conditions of the community. For example, in good economic conditions, the cost of infiltration wells can be passed on to the community and their construction can be made of really strong materials. On the other hand, in low socio-economic conditions, infiltration wells must be made of materials that are cheap and easy to obtain and have simple construction. - Material availability
Infiltration well planning must consider the availability of materials on site. For urban areas, infiltration wells can be made of brick, concrete, fiberglass tanks or concrete molds, while for rural areas, infiltration wells that are suitable to be developed are made of bamboo or weather-resistant wood or materials that are cheap and easily available on site.
Requirements for Infiltration Wells
In the application of Infiltration Wells, there are several things that need to be considered, including:
- Characteristics of Infiltration Wells
- Infiltration Well Requirements
- Infiltration Well Work System
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Infiltration Well Construction
In the rainwater cycle (hydrology) rainwater that falls on the earth's surface is water that can be used by humans, animals and plants (living things). In this case, rainwater that falls on the earth's surface will naturally be absorbed into the earth and the rest will flow on the surface which will flow into rivers and then into the ocean. Seeing the current condition where the water catchment area is already very critical, this causes the possibility of water to absorb into the earth less and less, while the use of water through pumping has increased, causing a water deficit that is getting worse. Because of this, the ground water that was not far from the earth's surface is now getting deeper, and if the intensity of rain decreases just a little, this will make the situation worse.
If this happens continuously, it will have very bad consequences where we will find it difficult to obtain groundwater for our needs, both for daily life and for certain purposes. In addition, this can also cause the entry of ocean water into the soil layer containing fresh water which can affect the quality of the water we use. Due to this, it is very necessary for us to carry out maintenance of water sources on an ongoing basis as an effort to prevent contamination of water sources and increase the amount and quality of groundwater, in which case the construction of infiltration wells is very necessary. The basic principle of this groundwater resource maintenance activity itself is as a medium to reduce water that cannot be absorbed into the soil and partly becomes surface runoff which in this case will end up in the ocean. For this reason, we must not allow the rain that occurs during the rainy season to not absorb into the ground and become surface runoff by using a container that can be used as a supporting medium so that water can re-absorb back into the ground so that the water can be reused during the dry season. can cause water shortages for daily life.(“Pengertian Sumur Resapan”, 2021).
In the construction of infiltration wells there are several things that will be discussed, including:
- Types of Infiltration Well Construction
- General Requirements for Infiltration Well Construction
- Construction of Infiltration Wells
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Infiltration Wells
Infiltration well is one of the engineering water conservation techniques in the form of a building made in such a way that it resembles the shape of a dug well with a certain depth which functions as a place to accommodate rainwater that falls on the roof of a house or watertight area and absorbs it into the ground. (Wikipedia, 2020). Many infiltration wells are built with the aim of preventing flooding, especially in areas that have high rainfall and in urban areas that have fewer trees. With the infiltration well the surface water flow can be maintained, as well as the groundwater level. Besides that, it can also reduce soil erosion and prevent sea water intrusion in the event of heavy rain with high intensity, especially in coastal areas. In this section, we will discuss a little about the advantages and disadvantages of infiltration wells.
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