A vacuum system for picking up and accumulating runoff from sprinkler and overland-flow infiltrometers is described. This system is much simpler than the runoff recirculation system of the Purdue sprinkler infiltrometer. Costs of fabrication, operation, and maintenance are greatly reduced and inherent errors of a malfunctioning recirculation system are avoided. Sampling for subsequent runoff-quality determinations is facilitated by the vacuum system since no sedimentation occurs in the collection and transfer parts of the system.