Does It Pay to be Mature? Evaluation of Bioretention Cell Performance Seven Years Postconstruction
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 9
Abstract
Bioretention cells (BRCs) are stormwater control measures that integrate water quantity and quality management. Previous research primarily focused on the performance of cells less than two years old, before potential clogging and sorption site saturation. To assess long-term effectiveness, this project evaluated the performance of a BRC after seven years to determine reductions in flow rate, flow volume, suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). These observations were compared with analyses conducted immediately postconstruction. Inflow and outflow water samples were collected for sediment, nutrients, and FIB. Soil media samples were collected from multiple depths and analyzed for denitrifying bacteria. Results indicate the BRC remains effective at reducing storm flows, nutrients, and FIB. These reductions were correlated to outflow volume, rather than storm characteristics. The majority of denitrifying bacteria were present in the top media layers, despite the presence of an internal water storage layer for denitrification. This finding suggests denitrification primarily occurs at anoxic microsites in the upper layers and that a lack of carbon at deeper depths may limit significant microbial growth.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Integrated Grants Program for funding this study and the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia for their assistance in planning, designing, and constructing the bioretention cell used for this research. Additional recognition goes to Dr. Greg Evanylo and Laura Lehmann for their support and guidance during the course of this study, and to Akinrotimi Akinola and Mitchell Dillon for their field assistance.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 9 • September 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 22, 2016
Accepted: Jan 6, 2017
Published ahead of print: Apr 12, 2017
Published online: Apr 13, 2017
Published in print: Sep 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Sep 13, 2017
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