The Use of Temperature as a Proxy for Nutrient Reduction: a Low-Cost Inspection Tool for Stormwater Control Measures

New regulations require the implementation of stormwater control measures (SCMs) in towns and cities. Often, the task of inspecting these systems is left up to the owner. However, testing SCMs for water quality performance can be onerous and expensive. In an attempt to reduce these burdens, temperature reduction through a SCM was investigated as a proxy to estimate nutrient removal in the forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Using a pervious concrete parking lot that was constructed on Villanova University's campus as a basis for design, two polyvinyl chloride (PVC) columns were constructed to test this concept. One column consisted of a traditional pervious concrete system with an aggregate bed, while the other simulated a sand bed underneath a SCM. In general, this method offers a lower-cost alternative to estimate water quality performance of a nonvegetative SCM. This procedure can be coupled with existing low-level monitoring techniques to gain an understanding of how an SCM is functioning post construction.