CONTAMINANT DETENTION IN HIGHWAY GRASS FILTER STRIPS

A 17-month sampling campaign was initiated to investigate the potential for vegetated highway shoulders to retain suspended solids, metals, and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). A site along SR 8 in Western Washington was selected and three full-scale test plots constructed for evaluation of contaminant retention capability. The data indicated that TPH and suspended solids were effectively removed. Metal concentration reduction was also effective when consideration was given to inadvertent pretreatment afforded by the highway runoff collection system. Consequently, the vegetated highway shoulder, located along hundreds of miles of highway can provide a cost effective means of contaminant retention.

  • Record URL:
  • 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:
    • Yonge, D R
  • Publication Date: 2000-1

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 73 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00791625
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: WA-RD 474.1,, Final Research Report
  • Contract Numbers: T9902-15
  • Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Apr 28 2000 12:00AM