Pollutant removal performance of field-scale stormwater biofiltration systems

The pollutant removal performance of three separate stormwater biofiltration systems in two different climates was assessed. At one of the sites, rain events were simulated, while actual runoff events were monitored at the other two sites. In all cases, concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2009-01, Vol.59 (8), p.1567-1576
Main Authors: Hatt, B E, Fletcher, T D, Deletic, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Biofilters
Biofiltration
Climate
Cyperaceae
Drying
Filter media
Filtration - methods
Heavy metals
Inflow
Lead
Melaleuca
Metals
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Nitrogen - analysis
Nitrogen removal
Phosphorus
Phosphorus - analysis
Plant Development
Pollutant removal
Pollutants
Rain
Removal
Runoff
Soil
Stormwater
Suspended particulate matter
System effectiveness
Total suspended solids
Water inflow
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Purification - methods
Wetting
Zinc
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Summary:The pollutant removal performance of three separate stormwater biofiltration systems in two different climates was assessed. At one of the sites, rain events were simulated, while actual runoff events were monitored at the other two sites. In all cases, concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS), copper, lead and zinc were effectively and reliably reduced, despite variations in inflow concentrations. Two biofiltration systems also effectively reduced phosphorus concentrations, however the third system discharged elevated phosphorus concentrations relative to inflow; this is attributed to poor specification of filter media properties. Effluent nitrogen concentrations were more variable at all sites and ranged from being substantially lower to considerably higher than inflow concentrations. Flow was also measured at two sites, where it was determined that volumetric reductions in runoff further improved pollutant removal. TSS and heavy metals will be reliably removed by a wide range of soil-based filter media, as will phopshorus, as long as the phosphorus content of the filter media is low. However, nitrogen removal remains a challenge because it is easily transformed to soluble forms and is influenced by wetting and drying. These results are essentially consistent with related laboratory studies.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2009.173