Steps toward a better understanding of urban runoff processes

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Abstract
Rainfall and runoff from drainage basins in various stages of urbanization were analyzed to determine the initial retention, the hydrologically significant impermeable area, and the infiltration capacities of the permeable portions of the basins. The drainage basins, varying in size from 9.5 to 185 square miles, are located in the Detroit metropolitan area. Techniques were developed that largely eliminated personal judgment in separating surface runoff from ground water discharge. Infiltration capacities in this region are from 3 to 5 times higher in late summer than in early spring. The average initial retention for the basins studied is approximately 0.2 inch. The hydrologically significant impermeable area appears to be closely related to the population density, but the effect of other factors is being studied. An investigation of the cause of seasonal and short period variations of infiltration capacity may provide a better understanding of the infiltration process.

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