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Wang X, Ma H, Huang C, Xu Z, Wang Y, Yang Y, Xiao H, Zhi Y, Chen L, Chai H. Investigation of pollutants accumulation in the submerged zone for pyrite-based bioretention facilities under continuous rainfall events. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 364:121448. [PMID: 38870797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Submerged zone in bioretention facilities for stormwater treatment has been approved to be an effective structure amendment to improve denitrification capability. However, the role and influence of water quality changes in the submerged zone under natural continuous random rainfall patterns are still not clear, especially when the rainfall is less than the pore water in the submerged zone. In this study, continuous rainfall events with different rainfall volume (light rain-light rain-heavy rain) were designed in a lab-scale woodchip mulched pyrite bioretention facility to test the effects of rainfall pattern. The results exhibited that light rain events significantly affected the pollutant removal performance of bioretention for the next rainfall. Different effects were observed during the long-term operation. In the 5th month, light rain reduced the ammonia removal efficiency of subsequent rainstorm events by 8.70%, while in the 12th month, when nitrate leakage occurred, light rain led to a 40.24% reduction in the next heavy rain event's nitrate removal efficiency. Additionally, light rain would also affect the concentration of by-products in the next rainfall. Following a light rain, the concentration of sulfate in the subsequent light rainfall can increase by 24.4 mg/L, and by 11.92 mg/L in a heavy rain. The water quality in the submerged zone and media characteristics analysis suggested that nitrogen conversion capacity of the substrate and microbes, such as Nitrospira (2.86%) and Thiobacillus (35.71%), as well as the in-situ accumulation of pollutants under light rain played important roles. This study clarifies the relationship between successive rainfall events and provides a more comprehensive understanding of bioretention facilities. This is beneficial for field study of bioretention facilities in the face of complex rainfall events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Haiyuan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China.
| | - Cong Huang
- Power China Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited, Hangzhou, 311122, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- Power China Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited, Hangzhou, 311122, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China; Southwest Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute of China, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China; National Research Base of Intelligent Manufacturing Service, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, China
| | - Huan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Yue Zhi
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
| | - Hongxiang Chai
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China.
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Cai F, Zuo X, Xu Q. Outflow risks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in stormwater bioretention cells: understanding roles of adsorption and transmission. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 88:1699-1710. [PMID: 37830992 PMCID: wst_2023_307 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, lab-scale bioretention cells were designed for the investigation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) outflow profiles at different depths, effects of adsorption and transmission, as well as modelling evaluation of ARB outflow risks using the common decay models (e.g., first-order decay models). ARB outflow was first found in the upper layers (after 100 days of the operation) with the lowest transmission frequencies of antibiotic resistance. Although the adsorption of ARB onto the substrate and its surface biofilms was effective with the maximum amount of ARB adsorbed (Qmax) reaching 108 CFU/g of the substrate and 107 CFU/g of biofilms, ARB outflow was detected in the bottom outlets after over 4 months of operation, reflecting that there was still a risk of antibiotic resistance through the treatment of bioretention cells. ARB outflow for both upper and middle outlets could be well described by third-order polynomial equations with correlation coefficients 0.9067 (p = 0.0002) and 0.9780 (p < 0.0001), respectively, where there were both positive and negative relationships between outflow ARB and inflow ARB, confirming the combined action of mechanisms blocking ARB outflow (e.g., substrate adsorption) and promoting ARB outflow (like transmission). These suggested two potential controlling approaches for ARB outflow from stormwater bioretention cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- FangYue Cai
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China E-mail:
| | - XiaoJun Zuo
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - QiangQiang Xu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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Zhou B, Shafii M, Parsons CT, Passeport E, Rezanezhad F, Lisogorsky A, Van Cappellen P. Modeling multi-year phosphorus dynamics in a bioretention cell: Phosphorus partitioning, accumulation, and export. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 876:162749. [PMID: 36906029 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) export from urban areas via stormwater runoff contributes to eutrophication of downstream aquatic ecosystems. Bioretention cells are a Low Impact Development (LID) technology promoted as a green solution to attenuate urban peak flow discharge, as well as the export of excess nutrients and other contaminants. Despite their rapidly growing implementation worldwide, a predictive understanding of the efficiency of bioretention cells in reducing urban P loadings remains limited. Here, we present a reaction-transport model to simulate the fate and transport of P in a bioretention cell facility in the greater Toronto metropolitan area. The model incorporates a representation of the biogeochemical reaction network that controls P cycling within the cell. We used the model as a diagnostic tool to determine the relative importance of processes immobilizing P in the bioretention cell. The model predictions were compared to multi-year observational data on 1) the outflow loads of total P (TP) and soluble reactive P (SRP) during the 2012-2017 period, 2) TP depth profiles collected at 4 time points during the 2012-2019 period, and 3) sequential chemical P extractions performed on core samples from the filter media layer obtained in 2019. Results indicate that exfiltration to underlying native soil was principally responsible for decreasing the surface water discharge from the bioretention cell (63 % runoff reduction). From 2012 to 2017, the cumulative outflow export loads of TP and SRP only accounted for 1 % and 2 % of the corresponding inflow loads, respectively, hence demonstrating the extremely high P reduction efficiency of this bioretention cell. Accumulation in the filter media layer was the predominant mechanism responsible for the reduction in P outflow loading (57 % retention of TP inflow load) followed by plant uptake (21 % TP retention). Of the P retained within the filter media layer, 48 % occurred in stable, 41 % in potentially mobilizable, and 11 % in easily mobilizable forms. There were no signs that the P retention capacity of the bioretention cell was approaching saturation after 7 years of operation. The reactive transport modeling approach developed here can in principle be transferred and adapted to fit other bioretention cell designs and hydrological regimes to estimate P surface loading reductions at a range of temporal scales, from a single precipitation event to long-term (i.e., multi-year) operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhou
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
| | - Mahyar Shafii
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Chris T Parsons
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Canada
| | - Elodie Passeport
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Fereidoun Rezanezhad
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Ariel Lisogorsky
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Philippe Van Cappellen
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
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Prodanovic V, Zhang K, Zheng M, Hu S, Hong PY, Yuan Z, Deletic A. Nitrification potential of daily-watered biofiltration designs for high ammonium wastewater treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:160989. [PMID: 36535472 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The vegetated biofiltration systems (VBS), also known as bioretentions or rain gardens, are well-established technology for treatment of urban stormwater and recently greywater, offering multiple benefits to urban environments. However, the impact of high ammonium strength wastewater (60 mg/L) on the nitrification process in these systems is not well understood. Hence, a laboratory-based column study was conducted to uncover dominant nitrification mechanisms, based on the learnings from similar onsite wastewater treatment systems. The experimental columns tested the effect of contact time (filter media depth, 150 mm, 300 mm and 700 mm), media oxygenation (active and passive) and alkalinity/pH (marble chips 5 % weight), as well as optimal operational conditions (inflow loading, concentrations, and dissolved oxygen (DO)). All nitrogen species (NH4+, NO3-, NO2-), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and physical parameters (DO, pH, electrical conductivity) were monitored across seven events over thirteen weeks. The results show that dosing with 30 and 60 mg/L of NH4+ resulted in 700 mm sand column depth to perform almost complete nitrification of NH4+ to NO3- (< 90 %), while 300 mm designs achieved partial nitrification of NH4+ to NO2-, likely due to limited contact time and inefficient nitrite oxidizing bacteria activity. Nitrification potential of all designs further supported that appropriate aerobic contact time is necessary for effective nitrification. Inflow concentration of NH4+ and DO did not significantly impact nitrification performance, while reducing daily volume loading reduced NO3- and NO2- leaching. Active and passive aeration and alkalinity buffering did not positively affect ammonium removal. While there is a potential to apply both nitrification-denitrification and anammox processes to future VBS design, further understanding of aeration and alkalinity on microbially driven nitrification processes is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veljko Prodanovic
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Kefeng Zhang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Shihu Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, SA 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ana Deletic
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, QLD 4001, Australia
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Pivetta GG, Tassi R, Piccilli DGA. Evaluating bioretention scale effect on stormwater retention and pollutant removal. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:15561-15574. [PMID: 36169844 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bioretention column studies are commonly used in laboratory to assess the performance of such structures in removal of pollutants and to investigate different conceptions aiming to increase their efficiency. However, no studies were found recommending suitable diameters or sizes, or about the uncertainties related to the transfer of results among the different scales (i.e., among different experiments or from the laboratory to field scale). This study assessed the effect of the varying diameters in experimental bioretention columns on the retention and removal of pollutants from stormwater runoff. Three sets of columns with diameters of 400 mm, 300 mm, and 200 mm were assessed. The results showed that runoff retention (R) was affected by the time interval between stormwater events, but not by the bioretention diameter, although the diameter influenced the variability of R results. The removal of TSS (95%), nitrite (98%), and phosphate (96%) did present variability among the different bioretention diameters. However, the nitrate removal was statistically different among the bioretention columns, with removal efficiency above 50% in the 300-mm and 200-mm columns, while the 400-mm columns acted as a source of nitrate by increasing its concentration in the outflow stormwater by up to 285%, suggesting that the removal of this pollutant can be influenced by the scale effect of the bioretention columns and the experiments with small bioretention diameters may not provide reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glaucia Ghesti Pivetta
- Cidade Universitária, Centro de Tecnologia - Prédio INPE - Sala 2061, Av. Roraima n◦ 1000, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande Do Sul, 97105-900, Brazil.
| | - Rutineia Tassi
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (DESA), Post-Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Daniel Gustavo Allasia Piccilli
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (DESA), Post-Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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6
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Sarazen J, Hurley S, Faulkner J. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a bioretention cell experiment receiving agricultural runoff from a dairy farm production area during third and fourth years of operation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2023; 52:149-160. [PMID: 36385620 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed the performance of three bioretention cells during the third and fourth years post establishment with respect to their ability to capture nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in runoff from a dairy farm production area. The effects of two treatments across the three cells were evaluated: a vegetation treatment using switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and a soil amendment treatment using low-P compost (derived from leaf litter). Cell 1 has neither vegetation nor compost; Cell 2 includes vegetation without compost; Cell 3 includes both vegetation and compost. The system was installed in 2016; performance was monitored in 2018 and 2019, after vegetation was well established. In 2019, bioretention cell hydrology was modified to create an internal storage zone (ISZ) and increase hydraulic retention time (HRT), targeting improved nitrate removal. In 2018, all three cells reduced effluent concentrations of total N by >50% and of both total P and soluble reactive P (SRP) by >90%. Similar trends were found in 2019 with the ISZ, except SRP effluent concentrations were significantly higher compared with 2018, indicating a tradeoff of P leaching associated with increased HRT. Averaging eight monitored storms, median mass removals of all nutrients for Cell 2 (with vegetation and without compost) was >94%. System performance improved during the third and fourth years of operation compared with results of the initial monitoring, highlighting the importance of monitoring once plant and soil media have become established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Sarazen
- Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, Aiken Forestry Lab, Univ. of Vermont, South Burlington, VT, 05403, USA
- Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Stephanie Hurley
- Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
- Gund Institute for the Environment, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Joshua Faulkner
- Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
- Gund Institute for the Environment, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
- Extension Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
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Hu Z, Zheng M, Hu S, Hong PY, Zhang X, Prodanovic V, Zhang K, Pikaar I, Ye L, Deletic A, Yuan Z. Electrochemical iron production to enhance anaerobic membrane treatment of wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119202. [PMID: 36215837 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although iron salts such as iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) have widespread application in wastewater treatment, safety concerns limit their use, due to the corrosive nature of concentrated solutions. This study demonstrates that local, electrochemical generation of iron is a viable alternative to the use of iron salts. Three laboratory systems with anaerobic membrane processes were set up to treat real wastewater; two systems used the production of either in-situ or ex-situ electrochemical iron (as Fe2+ and Fe2+(Fe3+)2O4, respectively), while the other system served as a control. These systems were operated for over one year to assess the impact of electrochemically produced iron on system performance. The results showed that dosing of electrochemical iron significantly reduced sulfide concentration in effluent and hydrogen sulfide content in biogas, and mitigated organics-based membrane fouling, all of which are critical issues inherently related to sustainability of anaerobic wastewater treatment. The electrochemical iron strategy can generate multiple benefits for wastewater management including increased removal efficiencies for total and volatile suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and phosphorus. The rate of methane production also increased with electrochemically produced iron. Economic analysis revealed the viability of electrochemical iron with total cost reduced by one quarter to a third compared with using FeCl3. These benefits indicate that electrochemical iron dosing can greatly enhance the overall operation and performance of anaerobic membrane processes, and this particularly facilitates wastewater management in a decentralized scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhetai Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Shihu Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Pei-Ying Hong
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, SA 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xueqing Zhang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Veljko Prodanovic
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kefeng Zhang
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ilje Pikaar
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Liu Ye
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ana Deletic
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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8
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Ament MR, Roy ED, Yuan Y, Hurley SE. Phosphorus removal, metals dynamics, and hydraulics in stormwater bioretention systems amended with drinking water treatment residuals. JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE WATER IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2022; 8:10.1061/jswbay.0000980. [PMID: 36776525 PMCID: PMC9907499 DOI: 10.1061/jswbay.0000980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water treatment residuals (DWTRs) are a promising media amendment for enhancing phosphorus (P) removal in bioretention systems, but substantial removal of dissolved P by DWTRs has not been demonstrated in field bioretention experiments. We investigated the capacity of a non-amended control media (Control) and a DWTR-amended treatment media (DWTR) to remove soluble reactive P (SRP), dissolved organic P (DOP), particulate P (PP), and total P (TP) from stormwater in a two-year roadside bioretention experiment. Significant reductions m SRP, PP and TP concentrations and loads were observed in both the Control and DWTR media. However, the P removal efficiency of the DWTR cells were greater than those of the Control cells for all P species, particularly during the second monitoring season as P sorption complexes likely began to saturate in the Control cells. The difference in P removal efficiency between the Control and DWTR cells was greatest during large storm events, which transported the majority of dissolved P loads in this study. We also investigated the potential for DWTRs to restrict water flow through bioretention media or leach heavy metals. The DWTRs used in this study did not affect the hydraulic performance of the bioretention cells and no significant evidence of heavy metal leaching was observed during the study period. Contrasting these results with past studies highlights the importance of media design in bioretention system performance and suggests that DWTRs can effectively capture and retain P without affecting system hydraulics if properly incorporated into bioretention media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Ament
- Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455; formerly, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Corresponding Author:
| | - Eric D. Roy
- Assistant Professor, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Yongping Yuan
- Research Hydrologist, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Stephanie E. Hurley
- Associate Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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LeviRam I, Gross A, Lintern A, Henry R, Schang C, Herzberg M, McCarthy D. Sustainable micropollutant bioremediation via stormwater biofiltration system. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 214:118188. [PMID: 35235884 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Waters contaminated with micropollutants are of environmental and public health concern globally. Stormwater is a significant source of anthropogenic micropollutants to receiving waters. Hence, sustainable stormwater remediation is needed to reduce contamination of waterways. Yet designing sustainable bioremediation solutions, including those targeted to remove micropollutants, is a major scientific challenge. This study aimed to adapt the design of stormwater biofiltration systems, to improve the removal of micropollutants and understand the role of the micropollutant-degrading bacteria in this bioremediation process. We investigated the atrazine removal performance of a prototype biofiltration system, in which the filter media was supplemented with Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC). The prototype biofiltration system completely removed atrazine to below detectable limits, significantly exceeding the GAC's adsorption capacity alone, suggesting other biological processes were present. We showed that atrazine degradation capacity, measured by the kinetics of the trzN gene abundance, was accelerated in the prototype system compared to the standard system (which had no added GAC; 0.8 vs. 0.37 week-1, respectively). Notably, this high level of atrazine removal did not come at the expense of the removal performance of other typical stormwater macropollutants (e.g., nutrients, suspended solids). The prototype biofiltration system showed a proof-of-concept of sustaining microbial remediation of a model micropollutant alongside stormwater macropollutants, which could be used to reduce impacts on receiving waterways and protect our ecosystems and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- I LeviRam
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Israel; Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory (EPHM Lab), Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - A Gross
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Israel
| | - A Lintern
- Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory (EPHM Lab), Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - R Henry
- Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory (EPHM Lab), Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - C Schang
- Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory (EPHM Lab), Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - M Herzberg
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Israel
| | - D McCarthy
- Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratory (EPHM Lab), Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
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Palacios YM, Gleadow R, Davidson C, Gan W, Winfrey B. Do mycorrhizae increase plant growth and pollutant removal in stormwater biofilters? WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117381. [PMID: 34233250 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mycorrhizae can improve plant growth and drought tolerance by enhancing plant uptake of nutrients and water, which are important targets for biofilters, a common stormwater treatment system. This study evaluated the role of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth, photosynthetic efficiency and pollutant removal in two Australian plant species grown in stormwater biofilters. During the establishment period and column study, Ficinia nodosa showed over 80% mycorrhizal colonization, leading to a doubling of shoot and root biomass compared to the control, while Carex appressa showed less than 26% mycorrhizal colonization and no effect on shoot and root biomass. Columns planted with mycorrhizal-inoculated F. nodosa had 5% higher removal of total phosphorus and 10% higher removal of total nitrogen (Figure 5), phosphate (Figure 6), and cadmium (Table 3). Mycorrhizal colonization did not appear to affect plant stress during drought as indicated by similar photosynthetic efficiencies within species. Our results indicate that mycorrhizal inoculation can be highly successful in biofilters while increasing plant growth and nutrient removal, opening opportunities to further study the role of mycorrhizae in enhancing plant drought tolerance and pollutant removal in existing biofiltration systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yussi M Palacios
- Water Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 23 College Walk, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Roslyn Gleadow
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Catherine Davidson
- Water Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 23 College Walk, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Weiduo Gan
- Water Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 23 College Walk, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Brandon Winfrey
- Water Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 23 College Walk, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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Pilot and Field Studies of Modular Bioretention Tree System with Talipariti tiliaceum and Engineered Soil Filter Media in the Tropics. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13131817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Stormwater runoff management is challenging in a highly urbanised tropical environment due to the unique space constraints and tropical climate conditions. A modular bioretention tree (MBT) with a small footprint and a reduced on-site installation time was explored for application in a tropical environment. Tree species used in the pilot studies were Talipariti tiliaceum (TT1) and Sterculia macrophylla (TT2). Both of the MBTs could effectively remove total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), zinc, copper, cadmium, and lead with removal efficiencies of greater than 90%. Total nitrogen (TN) removal was noted to be significantly higher in the wet period compared to the dry period (p < 0.05). Variation in TN removal between TT1 and TT2 were attributed to the nitrogen uptake and the root formation of the trees species. A field study MBT using Talipariti tiliaceum had a very clean effluent quality, with average TSS, TP, and TN effluent EMC of 4.8 mg/L, 0.04 mg/L, and 0.27 mg/L, respectively. Key environmental factors were also investigated to study their impact on the performance of BMT. It was found that the initial pollutant concentration, the dissolved fraction of influent pollutants, and soil moisture affect the performance of the MBT. Based on the results from this study, the MBT demonstrates good capability in the improvement of stormwater runoff quality.
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