Field Evaluation of Storm-Water Control Measures for Highway Runoff Treatment
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 1
Abstract
The thousands of kilometers of highways in North Carolina have the potential to generate large amounts of storm-water runoff. Thus, investigation of storm-water control measures (SCMs) for these somewhat unique linear catchments, where space is limited for SCM implementation, was needed. This study examined the quantity and quality of highway runoff at four sites over a 48-km stretch of Interstate 40 in the coastal plain of North Carolina. The highway had a 4-cm overlay of permeable asphalt, known as permeable friction course (PFC), which influenced the export of sediment-bound pollutants and produced median effluent concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) of , , , and at the four sites, well below concentrations observed from standard asphalt highway runoff. Two vegetative filter strips (VFSs), two traditional dry swales, and two wetland swales were also tested for pollutant removal efficacy at the four highway research sites. The filter strips generally produced higher pollutant concentrations than the edge of pavement due to a lack of vegetative cover, substantial soil compaction, and high slopes. Total nitrogen (TN) median effluent concentrations were significantly lower for wetland swales ( and ) than for dry swales ( and ). TN load export appeared lower from wetland swales when compared with dry swales, potentially due to the greater number of nutrient removal mechanisms that are present in wetland swales. Maintenance of highway SCMs was shown to be extremely important, as one of the dry swales produced an effluent TSS concentration of due to a head cut in the thalweg of the channel. As noted in other scientific literature, vegetative SCMs did not further reduce pollutant concentrations released by the PFC because TSS and sediment-bound pollutant concentrations seemingly were at or near irreducible concentrations. This study showed that incorporating wetland elements in the design of swales and the use of PFC should be considered by roadway designers.
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Acknowledgments
This research was made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Highway Storm-water Program. The aid of individuals from the Sampson County and Johnston County offices of NCDOT during installation of monitoring devices was indispensable. We also wish to thank NCDOT for the surveys of the four monitored sites and their watersheds. The authors acknowledge the North Carolina State University Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology laboratory for analyzing water quality samples during the project. Thanks also go to the North Carolina Division of Agriculture soils lab for analysis of soil chemical composition. The writers are grateful for the manuscript review provided by Ms. Kathy DeBusk and Dr. Jon Hathaway of North Carolina State University.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 1 • January 2012
Pages: 101 - 111
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 26, 2011
Accepted: Jun 28, 2011
Published online: Jun 30, 2011
Published in print: Jan 1, 2012
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