Hydrologic and Water-Quality Evaluation of a Rapid-Flow Biofiltration Device
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 2
Abstract
Manufactured treatment devices (MTDs) are increasingly installed to treat pollutants from stormwater in urban areas, but few peer-reviewed studies have assessed their field-scale performance. The Filterra biofiltration unit is a box filter combining high-flow engineered media with potential for biological treatment from a planted tree. A Filterra device was monitored for its impact on hydrology and water quality of runoff from a 0.10-ha impervious watershed in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for 22 months. Undersizing of the system and clogging of the media bed likely caused 22% of runoff to bypass the system. Although peak flows were significantly reduced () by a median 57% (likely owing to parking lot detention), postdevelopment peak flows were not consistently reduced to predevelopment flows. The Filterra provided stormwater treatment by significantly reducing event mean concentrations (EMCs) and total pollutant loadings for sediment (total suspended solids and suspended sediment concentration), nutrients (total phosphorus, total nitrogen, total ammoniacal nitrogen, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen), and zinc. Median EMC removal efficiency ranged from 35 to 97% and median loading efficiency was 39–80% for these pollutants. The device did not reduce nitrate/nitrite, total dissolved phosphorus, or copper. Nutrient concentrations of stormwater discharged from the Filterra generally met “good” water-quality thresholds established for the state of North Carolina and EMC targets established by the state of Washington for emergent MTDs. Clogging susceptibility and frequent maintenance of the Filterra unit were notable. Overall, results suggest the Filterra is an effective MTD for treating stormwater from small impervious watersheds.
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Acknowledgments
This research was financially supported by Contech Engineered Solutions, LLC (previously Americast/Filterra Biorention Systems). The authors would also like to thank the City of Fayetteville for their cooperation. North Carolina State University’s Shawn Kennedy (Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering) was integral to project success.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 2 • February 2018
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 12, 2016
Accepted: May 24, 2017
Published online: Dec 15, 2017
Published in print: Feb 1, 2018
Discussion open until: May 15, 2018
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