Allentown sits at 338 feet above sea level in the Lehigh Valley, where the underlying geology is dominated by limestone, dolomite, and shale of the Great Valley. These carbonate formations often produce variable infiltration rates across short distances. We perform infiltration tests using both Porchet and double-ring infiltrometer methods to measure in-situ permeability. Our team runs these tests according to ASTM D3385, ensuring reliable data for stormwater management design. For projects requiring additional in-situ data, we often pair infiltration testing with a georadar survey to detect buried solution features before digging.
One sinkhole-prone zone near the Little Lehigh Creek required three separate infiltration tests before the stormwater basin design was approved.