Underground bioretention systems

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide underground bioretention systems that capture and treat surface water runoff. Such underground bioretention systems have a chamber formed by a chamber floor, a chamber ceiling, and at least one chamber wall; an access opening in the chamber ceiling fitted with an access opening cover; an influent opening in the chamber ceiling or the at least one chamber wall; an effluent opening positioned in the chamber floor or the at least one chamber wall beneath the influent opening; a filtration media positioned in the chamber beneath the influent opening; and an underdrain system positioned in proximity with the chamber floor. Also in such bioretention systems, the chamber floor, the chamber ceiling, and the at least one chamber wall are comprised of a material and a design adapted to form the chamber in a manner that withstands pressure applied thereon by subterranean and ground surface materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underground bioretention system, to capture and treat contaminated surface water runoff, comprising:
 a chamber formed by a chamber floor, a chamber ceiling, and at least one chamber wall;   an access opening in the chamber ceiling fitted with an access opening cover;   an influent opening in the chamber ceiling or the at least one chamber wall;   an effluent opening positioned in the chamber floor or the at least one chamber wall beneath the influent opening;   a filtration media positioned in the chamber beneath the influent opening; and   an underdrain system positioned in in proximity with the chamber floor, and   
       wherein the chamber floor, the chamber ceiling, and the at least one chamber wall are comprised of a material and a design adapted to form the chamber in a manner that withstands pressure applied thereon by subterranean and ground surface materials that surround the underground bioretention system. 
     
     
         2 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising live vegetation in the filtration media. 
     
     
         3 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mulch above the filtration media. 
     
     
         4 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rock backfill in proximity with the underdrain system. 
     
     
         5 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration media is placed over a layer of matrix underdrain structure. 
     
     
         6 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plant establishment media in proximity with a surface of the filtration media and live vegetation in the plant establishment media. 
     
     
         7 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a splash guard positioned under the influent opening. 
     
     
         8 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet flow distributor and sedimentation chamber positioned under the influent opening. 
     
     
         9 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow restrictor, and wherein the flow restrictor is positioned in the underdrain system and operative to restrict a flow of water passing through the bioretention system. 
     
     
         10 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising weep holes in the chamber floor. 
     
     
         11 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass riser. 
     
     
         12 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration media is at least one member selected from the group consisting of an inert material and a cation exchange material. 
     
     
         13 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 2 , further comprising an irrigation system. 
     
     
         14 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 2 , further comprising an access riser and a reflective material mounted on an inner surface of at least one of a wall of the access riser and the at least one chamber wall, wherein the access opening cover is adapted to allow natural light to enter the chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 2 , further comprising an artificial light operative to emit an amount of light energy that promotes a growth of the live vegetation. 
     
     
         16 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of a battery and a solar panel operative to supply electrical power to the artificial light. 
     
     
         17 . An underground bioretention system, to capture and treat contaminated surface water runoff, comprising:
 a first chamber formed by a first chamber floor, a first chamber ceiling, and at least one first chamber wall;   a second chamber formed by a second chamber floor, a second chamber ceiling, and at least one second chamber wall, wherein:
 at least one of the first chamber ceiling and the second chamber ceiling further comprises an access opening fitted with an access opening cover, 
 at least one of the first chamber ceiling or the at least one first chamber wall and the second chamber ceiling or the second chamber wall further comprises an influent opening, 
 at least one of the first chamber floor or the at least one first chamber wall and the second chamber floor or the second chamber wall further comprises an effluent opening, 
 the second chamber comprises a filtration media in proximity with the second chamber floor and an underdrain system in proximity with the second chamber floor, 
 the at least one first chamber wall further comprises a first coupling opening and the at least one second chamber wall further comprises a second coupling opening, 
 the first coupling opening and the second coupling opening are fitted together in a manner that places the first chamber and the second chamber in substantially leak-free fluid communication, 
 the influent opening and the effluent opening are not both positioned in the first chamber or the second chamber, 
 the first chamber floor, the first chamber ceiling, and the at least one first chamber wall are comprised of a material and a design adapted to form the first chamber in a manner that withstands pressure applied thereon by subterranean and ground surface materials that surround the underground bioretention system, and 
 the second chamber floor, the second chamber ceiling, and the at least one second chamber wall are comprised of a material and a design adapted to form of the chamber in a manner that withstands pressure applied thereon by subterranean and ground surface materials that surround the underground bioretention system. 
   
     
     
         18 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 17 , further comprising live vegetation in the filtration media. 
     
     
         19 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 18 , further comprising an access riser and a reflective material mounted on an inner surface of at least one of a wall of the access riser, the at least one first chamber wall, and the at least one second chamber wall, and wherein the access opening cover is adapted to allow natural light to enter the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 18 , further comprising an artificial light operative to emit an amount of light energy that promotes a growth of the live vegetation. 
     
     
         21 . The underground bioretention system of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one of a battery and a solar panel operative to supply electrical power to the artificial light.