Woodchips and drinking water treatment residuals in vegetated bioretention systems: how do they perform against conventional soil recommendations in treating stormwater runoff?

Presenter's Name(s)

Sam Brewer

Conference Year

January 2023

Abstract

Bioretention, a type of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), is a nature-based solution to water quality issues facing developed landscapes. Bioretention systems use engineered soil media and vegetation to capture and convert pollutants found in stormwater runoff before they reach downstream water bodies. This research explores the use of woodchips and drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) as soil media amendments in bioretention systems for the removal of nutrients and metals in stormwater runoff. Twelve bioretention mesocosms, with three replicates of four treatments (sand, topsoil, topsoil+ woodchips, and topsoil+ DWTR), were analyzed for pollutant reductions and plant health following simulated stormwater events. This poster will share two years of mesocosm study sampling data from a partner project between the University of Vermont and Stone Environmental as part of the Lake Champlain Basin Program

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Stephanie Hurley

Status

Graduate

Student College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Program/Major

Plant and Soil Science

Primary Research Category

Life Sciences

Abstract only.

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Woodchips and drinking water treatment residuals in vegetated bioretention systems: how do they perform against conventional soil recommendations in treating stormwater runoff?

Bioretention, a type of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), is a nature-based solution to water quality issues facing developed landscapes. Bioretention systems use engineered soil media and vegetation to capture and convert pollutants found in stormwater runoff before they reach downstream water bodies. This research explores the use of woodchips and drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) as soil media amendments in bioretention systems for the removal of nutrients and metals in stormwater runoff. Twelve bioretention mesocosms, with three replicates of four treatments (sand, topsoil, topsoil+ woodchips, and topsoil+ DWTR), were analyzed for pollutant reductions and plant health following simulated stormwater events. This poster will share two years of mesocosm study sampling data from a partner project between the University of Vermont and Stone Environmental as part of the Lake Champlain Basin Program