THE ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER POLLUTION POTENTIAL RESULTING FROM STORMWATER INFILTRATION BMP'S. RESEARCH REPORT

Washington State has begun a program to dispose of highway runoff in which a priority has been given to the use of infiltration type technologies (e.g., infiltration basins, dry wells, etc.). Heavy metals are the most prevalent priority pollutant in highway runoff. Though traditionally these heavy metals are thought to possess relatively large retardation factors within the subsurface, previous studies have indicated a possibility of their transport being facilitated through complexation with natural organic matter (NOM). If ignored this form of transport may pose serious errors in the prediction of metal(s) breakthrough times and mass loadings to underlying groundwaters. In addressing this issue, soil columns were tested under loading conditions similar to actual infiltration BMP's to assess the performance of these facilities in removing heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) from infiltrating water. Experiments were performed investigating the effects of high and low concentrations of NOM on metals attenuation by field soils. Results show that high concentrations of NOM actually improved soil column performance. The data revealed that metals speciation and background metals present in the soil are important factors to consider, because they can affect expected metals removal rates of soils. The hydraulics of the system played a secondary role to the geochemistry. Results suggest that infiltration can be a viable alternative in disposing of runoff at low metals concentrations. Modifications to guidelines were discussed to improve the long-term performance of infiltration facilities.

• Record URL:
  http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/389.1.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Washington State University, Pullman

  Washington State Transportation Center
  Pullman, WA  United States  99164

  Washington State Department of Transportation

  Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, P.O. Box 47300
  Olympia, WA  United States  98504-7300

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hathhorn, W E
  • Yonge, D R
• Publication Date: 1996-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 65 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Drainage; Geochemistry; Groundwater; Heavy metals; Infiltration; Management; Organic content; Pollution; Runoff
• Old TRIS Terms: Organic content (Soil)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00720102
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: WA-RD 389.1, Res Proj T9902, Task 3
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 9 1996 12:00AM