Overcoming Soil Infiltration Barriers: How GEPS Solves the Problem

Jun 27
3 min read

Water needs to move through soil for healthy plants, stable foundations, and effective stormwater management. But in many places, water can’t get into the soil volume as it should. This is usually due to the type of soil, how the soil is arranged, or the way different soil layers interact. Below, we explain the main reasons why soil infiltration is often poor and how Exlterra's Groundwater Energy Passive System (GEPS) can help.

What Stops Water from Soaking into Soil?

Clay and Dense Soils

Clay-rich and other dense soils have very small particles that fit tightly together. This leaves little space for water to move, and once water gets in, it’s placed under so much pressure it gets trapped. When clay soil is dry, it cracks, but once it gets wet, those cracks close and water can’t get through. Compacted soils, which happen when soil is pressed down by heavy equipment or foot traffic, have the same problem. The soil gets squeezed, the spaces between particles shrink, and water stays on the surface or gets trapped inside instead of moving further.

Surface Crusting

During dry months, the very top of the soil dries out and forms a "crust" that makes it difficult for water to infiltrate. Since GEPS rebalances moisture content in the soil year-round, the ground where it's installed won't form a "crust" in dry months, and will accept water much quicker during rain.

Capillary Barriers Between Soil Layers

Many soils have layers with different textures. For example, a fine clay layer might sit on top of a sandier layer. Water moves down through the fine layer but then stops at the boundary with the coarse layer - even though coarse soils tend to infiltrate better on their own. This happens because water needs more force to move from the smaller spaces in the clay layer into the bigger spaces in the sandy layer. The result is water "pooling" above the boundary, causing soggy soil above and dry soil below.

Low Organic Matter and Poor Structure

Soils with little organic matter or few plant roots have fewer large pores. Without these natural channels, water moves slowly or not at all. Poor soil structure can also result from erosion or lack of biological activity.

How GEPS Can Help

GEPS Passively Infiltrates Water

GEPS doesn't act like a straw or a pipe - it creates pressure gradients in the soil that help water move where it naturally wants to move, through the soil itself. As the soil expands and contracts with wetting and drying cycles, GEPS will squeeze and relax, encouraging water to move where it's meant to go - from areas of high to low concentration.

GEPS Resolves Capillary Barriers

At the boundary between different soil layers, the pressure gradients created through GEPS help water cross from one layer to the next.

Improves Soil Structure Over Time

As GEPS works, it responds to the soil expanding or contracting around it, agitating the soil. This means that over time, water can move more freely, and the soil becomes healthier and more stable overall. This also solves issues related to low roots/organic matter, since healthier soils mean stronger turf and vegetation.

No Power or Maintenance Needed

GEPS works through the natural movement and behavior of soil and water. It doesn’t need electricity or regular maintenance. Once installed, it keeps working on its own as a true set-and-forget environmental solution.

Why GEPS is the best-in-class solution for improving your soils

Poor infiltration is a common problem caused by clay soils, surface crusting, capillary barriers, and low organic matter. GEPS solves these problems by creating new opportunities for water to infiltrate, breaking through tough soil layers, and improving soil structure. It’s a simple, long-lasting solution for better water management and healthier soil.

GEPS can...