Sickerzonen

Sickerzonen is a term used primarily in hydrology and environmental science to describe zones where fluids from the surface seep downward through soil and rock. The word derives from the German verb sickern, meaning to seep. In practice, sickerzonen can be natural features of a landscape or engineered components of water management systems.

Definition and characteristics: Sickerzonen are typically located in the vadose zone, above the groundwater table, and are characterized by relatively high infiltration rates and variable moisture. Their extent and effectiveness depend on soil permeability, soil horizon structure, moisture conditions, vegetation, and surface slope. They may occur at varying depths and across different landscapes, from forests and fields to urban areas with permeable pavements or infiltration basins.

Role and applications: Sickerzonen contribute to groundwater recharge and influence the sustainable yield of aquifers. In urban planning and stormwater management, identifying sicker zones helps design infiltration facilities such as infiltration basins, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces to reduce surface runoff and filter pollutants. They can also pose contamination risks when infiltrating water carries pollutants into the subsurface, requiring monitoring and proper land-use controls.

Measurement and management: Hydrologists map and characterize sickerzonen through soil surveys, infiltration tests, tracer methods, and groundwater monitoring to estimate recharge potential and contaminant transport. The concept remains most common in German-language literature and regional planning contexts.