Marketing Paragraph: Statement of Purpose: This research will focus on developing an engineered media that can effectively filter out nutrients and suspended particles from stormwater runoff, leading to cleaner surface water. Aims to share useful ideas for treatment stormwater, helping to protect our ecosystems and promote healthier urban environment.
Full Abstract: Complete Proposal for Your Session:>Stormwater runoff containing nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to eutrophication in receiving surface waters. While naturally occurring, nutrient loading rates are increased by anthropogenic activities, such as urbanization, industrialization, agricultural activities, and wastewater treatment effluent. Eutrophication leads to agal blooms which can deoxygenate water bodies impacting the aquatic ecosystem. Stormwater control measures can be used to reduce nutrient loading and associated negative impacts. Stormwater control measures often function by promoting filtration, infiltration, and evapotranspiration. The purpose of this research is to analyze engineered media matrices commonly used within filtration and infiltration-based stormwater control measures to determine pollutant removal efficacy. This ongoing research is using laboratory column testing to inform future full-scale investigations on optimal media makeup. A variety of media configurations and materials including sand, iron-enhanced sand, biochar, and woodchips, are being investigated through this research. A total of 24 6-in. diameter by 36-in. long columns filled with media are being used to assess performance. A valve is located at the bottom of each column is used to adjust flow through the system and to mimic typical in-situ infiltration rates. Testing introduces synthetic stormwater with a falling 1-ft water head. The synthetic stormwater includes: 200 mg/L of silica, 5.55 mg/L ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4), and 0.6 mg/L potassium phosphate monobasic (KH2PO4). Columns are analyzed based off nutrient and total suspended solids removal efficacy using standard nutrient detection methods and total suspended solids analytical procedures. After analyzing performance media configurations, the most effective options will be chosen for application in full-scale stormwater biofiltration experiments to correlate results with laboratory-scale testing.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this presentation, attendees will:
Learn how increased nutrient loading from anthropogenic activities (e.g., urbanization, agriculture, and wastewater) contributes to eutrophication, algal blooms, and aquatic ecosystem degradation.
Gain knowledge about various engineered media matrices (e.g., sand, iron-enhanced sand, biochar, and woodchips) and their functions in filtration and infiltration-based stormwater control measures to reduce nutrient and pollutant loads.
Learn about the laboratory column testing setup, including the introduction of synthetic stormwater, media configurations, flow adjustments, and performance evaluation metrics (nutrient removal and total suspended solids) for developing optimal biofiltration solutions.
.jpg)
