Lopez-Ponnada EV, Lynn TJ, Ergas SJ, Mihelcic JR. Long-term field performance of a conventional and modified bioretention system for removing dissolved nitrogen species in stormwater runoff.
WATER RESEARCH 2020;
170:115336. [PMID:
31841771 DOI:
10.1016/j.watres.2019.115336]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Bioretention systems are efficient at removing particulates, metals, and hydrocarbons from stormwater runoff. However, managing dissolved nitrogen (N) species (dissolved organic N, NH4+, NO2-, NO3-) is a challenge for these systems. This paper reports the results of a long-term field study comparing N removal of: 1) a modified bioretention system that included an internal water storage zone containing wood chips to promote denitrification and 2) a conventional bioretention system. The systems were studied, without and with plants, under varying hydraulic loading rates (HLRs) and antecedent dry conditions (ADCs). Both bioretention designs were efficient at removing NH4+ (83% modified, 74% conventional), while removal of NOx (NO2--N + NO3--N) was significantly higher in the modified system (81% modified, 29% conventional). Results show that the addition of an internal water storage zone promotes denitrification, resulting in lower effluent TN concentrations (<0.75 mg/L modified, ∼1.60 mg/L conventional). The lowest HLR studied, 4.1 cm/h, provided the longest hydraulic retention time in the internal water storage zone (∼3 h) and had the greatest TN removal efficiency (90% modified, 59% conventional). In contrast to prior short-term studies, ADCs between 0 and 13 days did not significantly affect DOC export or TN removal. A short-term study with Florida friendly vegetation indicated that TN removal performance was enhanced in the conventional bioretention system. This field study provides promising results for improving dissolved N removal by modifying bioretention systems to include an internal water storage zone containing wood chips.
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