Impact of Infiltration Systems on Illicit Waters in Sewer Networks

The frequent effects of urbanization and climate change make stormwater runoff control critical. Infiltration systems can provide multiple benefits to the environment, i.e., flood risk mitigation, stormwater quality improvement, aquifer recharge, and a reduction in the activation of combined sewer overflows. However, their use must be carefully planned since they can cause illicit waters in the sewer network due to the deterioration of pipes and junctions. This study proposes a theoretical framework and a case study to assess the interaction between the deterioration of a sewer and the infiltration coming from the soil surface and/or from infiltration systems.