Removal of Pollutants from Simulated Highway Runoff Using a Vegetated Biofilter

Low impact development techniques can be integrated into stormwater management of linear transportation systems and afford opportunities to capitalize on the natural environment to mitigate stormwater. One of these techniques is the vegetated biofilter. A 4 ft (1.2 m) wide by 14 ft (4.3 m) long prototype vegetated biofilter was constructed on a moveable frame. Artificial runoff was delivered to the grass bed for four comprehensive tests at slopes and flow rates as follows: 8:1, medium; 4:1, medium; 2:1, medium; and 2:1, high. The medium and high flows represented storm runoff events typical in Ohio. Artificial runoff, formulated with metals and native soil, was applied to the bed at a “high” concentration for the first part of the event, followed by a “medium” concentration. During the simulation, samples were obtained from the inlet, surface runoff, and underdrain and analyzed for total and dissolved metals and TSS. Prior to and at the end of testing cores were extracted from the bed, separated into soil, roots and grass, and each component analyzed for metal content per mass of soil. Results indicated that all constituents (7 total metals and TSS) were removed at levels above 85% except for Ni in one test at 2:1 slope, high flow rate. Metals above background levels were found primarily in the first half (7 ft, 2.1 m) of the bed. Soil particles in the influent flow, tagged with La, were not resuspended and were not measured at any significant concentration in the outlet surface flow.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Mitchell, Gayle F
  • Riefler, R Guy
  • Russ, Andrew C
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2010-1-10 to 2010-1-14
• Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 22p
• Monograph Title: TRB 89th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drainage; Environment; Pollutants; Runoff; Simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Biofiltration ponds (Highway stormwater runoff); Vegetated filter strips
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01152435
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 10-3615
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 16 2010 6:13AM