Nitrate and phosphate removal through enhanced bioretention media: mesocosm study

Water Environ Res. 2013 Sep;85(9):823-32. doi: 10.2175/106143013x13736496908997.

Abstract

Bioretention is an evolving type of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) designed to attenuate peak flows, reduce stormwater volume, and treat stormwater. This article examines the capabilities of a bioretention soil mixture of sand and compost enhanced with aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals to reduce nutrients from stormwater runoff. Columns with and without a saturation zone and vegetation were compared to examine their role in removing nitrate and ortho-phosphate from stormwater. Results show that utilization of a saturation zone can significantly reduce nitrate in effluent water (71% compared to 33% without a saturated zone), even in a newly constructed system. However, ortho-phosphate reduction was significantly better in the columns without a saturated zone (80%) compared to columns with (67%). Plants did not significantly improve removal. This suggests amendments such as aluminum-based water treatment residuals for phosphorus removal and a saturation zone for nitrogen removal are needed during the initial establishment period.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Nitrates / isolation & purification*
  • Phosphates / isolation & purification*
  • Rain
  • Wastewater / analysis*
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • Wetlands

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Phosphates
  • Waste Water