Evaluating Bioretention Hydrology and Nutrient Removal at Three Field Sites in North Carolina
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 6
Abstract
Three bioretention field sites in North Carolina were examined for pollutant removal abilities and hydrologic performance. The cells varied by fill media type or drainage configuration. The field studies confirmed high annual total nitrogen mass removal rates at two conventionally drained bioretention cells (40% reduction each). Nitrate-nitrogen mass removal rates varied between 75 and 13%, and calculated annual mass removal of zinc, copper, and lead from one Greensboro cell were 98, 99, and 81%, respectively. All high mass removal rates were due to a substantial decrease in outflow volume. The ratio of volume of water leaving the bioretention cell versus that which entered the cell varied from 0.07 (summer) to 0.54 (winter). There was a significant change in the ratio of outflow volume to inflow volume when comparing warm seasons to winter. Cells using a fill soil media with a lower phosphorus index (P-index), Chapel Hill cell C1 and Greensboro cell G1, had much higher phosphorus removal than Greensboro cell G2, which used a high P-index fill media. Fill media selection is critical for total phosphorus removal, as fill media with a low P-index and relatively high CEC appear to remove phosphorus much more readily.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to thank the research sponsor: the North Carolina Water Quality Workgroup of the UNC Water Resources Research Institute. The City of Greensboro (Scott Bryant and Ron Small) and the Town of Chapel Hill (Fred Royall) provided invaluable support. Thanks also go to the following members of the NCSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department: L. T. Woodlief, Amy Moran, Mike Shaffer, and Dave Bidelspach.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 6 • December 2006
Pages: 600 - 608
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 20, 2005
Accepted: Oct 27, 2005
Published online: Dec 1, 2006
Published in print: Dec 2006
Authors
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