Pollutant Transport within the Vadose Zone: Interactions of Soil Horizon Chemistry on Water Quality
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009: Great Rivers
Abstract
Hydrologic cycle restoration is the primary objective of stormwater management. Infiltration and biofiltration systems composed of engineered soils have become a preferred tool for obtaining this objective while also providing pollutant removal. It is desirable, though, to limit soil disturbance and incorporate native soils. The use of native soils requires a fundamental understanding of their behavior towards water transport and pollutant treatment. Their structure is not homogeneous but instead contains several layers, or "horizons," each with differing pollutant removal capacity. The ability of the various horizons to treat runoff was investigated over 40 simulated storm events in two soil types, a Wharton silt loam and Leetonia loamy sand. Effluent water results showed leaching of total nitrogen and removal of total phosphorus by all soil horizons of both soil types. Potassium leached from the organic horizons of both soils, the silt loam showed removal by lower horizons while the loamy sand did not. All soil horizons of both soil types lowered the pH of influent stormwater and increased conductivity, turbidity, color, and hardness.
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Copyright
© 2009 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 26, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Contaminant transport
- Environmental engineering
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Infrastructure
- Pollutants
- Pollution
- Soil mechanics
- Soil pollution
- Soil properties
- Soil treatment
- Soil water
- Transportation engineering
- Transportation management
- Water and water resources
- Water management
- Water pollution
- Water quality
- Water supply
- Water supply systems
- Water treatment
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