Analysis of Bioretention Soil Media for Improved Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Copper Retention
Presentation Abstract
The current municipal Nation Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater permit for Washington State requires the use of low impact development (LID) practices as the first option for managing stormwater where feasible. Bioretention is the most widely applicable and flexible BMP in the suite of LID practices. While bioretention can provide very good water quality treatment for many contaminants, regional and national research indicates nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and copper (Cu) may be exported from these systems.
This presentation will describe a study focused on optimizing bioretention soil media for improve retention of N, P, and Cu. The analyses and media design consists of three phases:
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Leaching analysis: Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Protocol was performed on individual media components to determine P, N, and Cu export potential. These data and other performance measures were considered to select individual media components for media blends.
-
Flushing media blends: The best performing individual components were used to develop media blends and those blends placed in 20 cm laboratory columns with under-drains. The media columns were flushed with deionized water and the effluent assessed for total dissolved solids, dissolved organic carbon, hardness, total and dissolved metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other parameters.
-
Dosing media blends: stormwater with targeted concentrations of contaminants was applied at specified rates and loads to determine the pollutant capture capability of the media blends. The above suite of parameters were also analyzed for the dosing phase.
Eight media blends (treatments) were selected. Each treatment was replicated three times and a 45.7 cm layer of the media placed above a 30.5 cm drainage layer in the columns. Media blends consisted of a compost-based media control and treatments consisting of various ratios of volcanic sand, iron-fused wood chips, diatomaceous earth, coco coir-peat, and high carbon fly ash, activated alumina, and granular activate carbon.
Session Title
Bioretention Performance in the Pacific Northwest
Conference Track
Fate and Effects of Pollutants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
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)
Urban runoff--Washington (State)--Management; Water quality management--Washington (State); Rain gardens--Washington (State); Phosphorus; Copper; Nitrogen; Soil science
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Nation Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (U.S.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Washington (State)
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
Analysis of Bioretention Soil Media for Improved Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Copper Retention
2016SSEC
The current municipal Nation Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater permit for Washington State requires the use of low impact development (LID) practices as the first option for managing stormwater where feasible. Bioretention is the most widely applicable and flexible BMP in the suite of LID practices. While bioretention can provide very good water quality treatment for many contaminants, regional and national research indicates nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and copper (Cu) may be exported from these systems.
This presentation will describe a study focused on optimizing bioretention soil media for improve retention of N, P, and Cu. The analyses and media design consists of three phases:
-
Leaching analysis: Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Protocol was performed on individual media components to determine P, N, and Cu export potential. These data and other performance measures were considered to select individual media components for media blends.
-
Flushing media blends: The best performing individual components were used to develop media blends and those blends placed in 20 cm laboratory columns with under-drains. The media columns were flushed with deionized water and the effluent assessed for total dissolved solids, dissolved organic carbon, hardness, total and dissolved metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other parameters.
-
Dosing media blends: stormwater with targeted concentrations of contaminants was applied at specified rates and loads to determine the pollutant capture capability of the media blends. The above suite of parameters were also analyzed for the dosing phase.
Eight media blends (treatments) were selected. Each treatment was replicated three times and a 45.7 cm layer of the media placed above a 30.5 cm drainage layer in the columns. Media blends consisted of a compost-based media control and treatments consisting of various ratios of volcanic sand, iron-fused wood chips, diatomaceous earth, coco coir-peat, and high carbon fly ash, activated alumina, and granular activate carbon.
