Water Quality Treatment Characteristics of Full-Scale Bioretention Systems with Various Media Blends
Presentation Abstract
Washington State University (WSU) is testing various bioretention media blends at a low impact development (LID) research facility in western Washington. The conference presentation will provide a brief discussion of the facility design and then focus on the initial testing of the full-scale, replicated bioretention systems (with vegetation) to determine nutrient, metal and hydrocarbon and bacteria treatment capability. The bioretention component of the LID research facility includes twenty, full-scale replicated bioretention cells to test the: pollutant management capabilities of various soil mixes; long-term pollutant concentration trends in soils; plant growth and evapotranspiration performance; detailed hydraulic characteristics; and long-term infiltration rates influenced by various plant types and sediment loading regimes. Each cell is comprised of a 152 cm diameter tank filled with various soil media (61 cm deep) and planted with the same plant species. Each tank has an under-drain, flow monitoring instruments and water quality sampling equipment. Sixteen of the 20 cells are currently being tested (four soil media treatments replicated four times). The four media blends include: 1. 60% mineral aggregate and 40% compost by volume. 2. 80% mineral aggregate and 20% compost by volume. 3. 60% mineral aggregate, 30% compost, and 10% water treatment residuals by volume. 4. 60% mineral aggregate, 15% compost, 15% shredded cedar bark, and 10% water treatment residuals by volume. The soil media are experimental blends designed to optimize stormwater pollutant capture with particular attention to phosphate and nitrate management. Natural (lower pollutant concentrations) and synthetic stormwater (higher pollutant concentrations) are distributed to the cells. The water quality treatment part of the presentation will focus on the base-line testing of the bioretention media, treatment capability under leaching conditions (low pollutant concentrations) and treatment capability at higher pollutant concentrations.
Session Title
Session S-09B: Bioretention for Improving Water Quality
Conference Track
Stormwater
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2-5-2014 10:30 AM
End Date
2-5-2014 12:00 PM
Location
Room 608-609
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Runoff--Purification--Washington (State), Western--Evaluation; Bioswales--Washington (State), Western--Evaluation
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Washington State University
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Washington (State), Western
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Water Quality Treatment Characteristics of Full-Scale Bioretention Systems with Various Media Blends
Room 608-609
Washington State University (WSU) is testing various bioretention media blends at a low impact development (LID) research facility in western Washington. The conference presentation will provide a brief discussion of the facility design and then focus on the initial testing of the full-scale, replicated bioretention systems (with vegetation) to determine nutrient, metal and hydrocarbon and bacteria treatment capability. The bioretention component of the LID research facility includes twenty, full-scale replicated bioretention cells to test the: pollutant management capabilities of various soil mixes; long-term pollutant concentration trends in soils; plant growth and evapotranspiration performance; detailed hydraulic characteristics; and long-term infiltration rates influenced by various plant types and sediment loading regimes. Each cell is comprised of a 152 cm diameter tank filled with various soil media (61 cm deep) and planted with the same plant species. Each tank has an under-drain, flow monitoring instruments and water quality sampling equipment. Sixteen of the 20 cells are currently being tested (four soil media treatments replicated four times). The four media blends include: 1. 60% mineral aggregate and 40% compost by volume. 2. 80% mineral aggregate and 20% compost by volume. 3. 60% mineral aggregate, 30% compost, and 10% water treatment residuals by volume. 4. 60% mineral aggregate, 15% compost, 15% shredded cedar bark, and 10% water treatment residuals by volume. The soil media are experimental blends designed to optimize stormwater pollutant capture with particular attention to phosphate and nitrate management. Natural (lower pollutant concentrations) and synthetic stormwater (higher pollutant concentrations) are distributed to the cells. The water quality treatment part of the presentation will focus on the base-line testing of the bioretention media, treatment capability under leaching conditions (low pollutant concentrations) and treatment capability at higher pollutant concentrations.
