Permeation of a liquid into something by filtration.
The movement of water through the soil surface into the soil profile.
Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. The infiltration capacity is defined as the maximum rate of infiltration. It is most often measured in inches per day. The infiltration capacity decreases as the soil moisture content of soils surface layers increases. If the precipitation rate exceeds the infiltration rate, runoff will usually occur unless there is some physical barrier.
Many soil characteristics can also play a role in determining the rate at which infiltration occurs. Water moves through sandy soils very well, while moves slowly through clay soils.
We are concerned with the infiltration rate when we are installing permeable pavers, which are designed to allow water to flow through the pavers into the soil below. See article on permeable pavers.
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