Polluted stormwater, if not treated, can compromise water quality throughout our hydrologic cycle, adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems. Common stormwater pollutants, copper and zinc, have been identified as primary toxicants in multiple freshwater and marine environments. For small-scale generators, stormwater management can be cumbersome and implementation of common BMPs impractical thus catch basins are popular though not the most environmentally conscious and sustainable option. This study aims to characterize the potential of a mobile media filter operation for the treatment and on-site recycling of catch basin stormwater. The removal capacities of various commercially available filter media (e.g. a common perlite; Earthlite™, a medium largely composed of biochars; and Filter33™, a proprietary porous medium) were measured using binary injection solutions modeled after local catch basin stormwater characteristics. The results of filtration experiments, rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs), indicate that the transport of metals in Perlite is primarily impacted by nonspecific sorption whereas in Earthlite™ and Filter33™ both nonspecific and specific sorption are present. For all media and experimentation, there was a consistent preferential uptake of copper such that copper displayed delayed arrival and/or greater removal than zinc. Moreover, the observed snow plow effects and concentration plateaus in Earthlite™ and Filter33™ RSSCTs suggest rate limited ion exchange and specific sorption in addition to ion competition. Earthlite™ exhibited an approach velocity dependent removal efficiency in the RSSCTs and pseudo second order uptake behavior for zinc in kinetic batch experiments. At the lab scale equivalent of the proposed field scale flow rate, Filter33™ displayed the greatest average zinc removal of 8.6 mg/g. In all, this research indicates that test parameters (i.e. pH, competitive ions solutions, empty bed contact time, flow rate) based on the natural environment and field scale operation can greatly impact removal efficiency in filter media.

I evaluated the effectiveness of plant roots to increase infiltration rates within stormwater bioretention facilities (SBFs), roadside planter compartments that filter stormwater. SBFs attenuate harmful effects of stormwater by reducing peak flow and retaining pollutants, with increased infiltration that improves both these functions. Researchers have shown that roots can increase infiltration within greenhouse, lab, field, and test SBF settings. However, no researchers have yet measured either the extent to which different root characteristics can increase infiltration or the variation in root characteristics and their effect on infiltration rates among plant assemblages within currently functioning SBFs. To determine if root-enhanced infiltration was occurring within SBFs, I hypothesized 1) there is a relationship between root characteristics and infiltration during late spring, and 2) seasonal root growth increases infiltration rates. Within Portland, OR, I measured infiltration rate from January 2014 to February 2015 and root characteristics from January-February (J-F) and May-June (M-J) 2014 in ten SBFs with "Elk Blue" rush (Juncus patens) and 1 or 2 trees of less than 8.4 cm stem diameter. During M-J, four root characteristics showed a positive relationship with infiltration rate, and two root characteristics showed a strong positive relationship with infiltration rate within the topsoil. Also, a relationship was shown between the increase (J-F to M-J 2014) in three root characteristics and the increase in infiltration rate. To determine if root morphology and infiltration rates differed among SBFs with two different dominant vegetation taxa (small and large root biomass), I hypothesized 3) Juncus patens and tree dominant assemblage (greater root biomass) exhibits greater infiltration compared to the Carex dominant assemblage, 4) the increase in infiltration rate and root characteristics from J-F to M-J is greater in the Juncus compared to the Carex assemblage, and 5) root surface area density (RSAD) within Juncus SBFs shows a positive relationship with infiltration rate in late spring. I measured infiltration rate from January 2014 to February 2015 and root characteristics from January-February (J-F) and May-June (M-J) 2014 among five large-root (Juncus and tree) and five small-root biomass (Carex sp) SBFs. Juncus SBFs showed greater values for three root characteristics during J-F and five root characteristics during M-J 2014 compared to Carex SBFs. Also, Juncus SBFs showed an increase from J-F to M-J 2014 for five root characteristics while Carex SBFs showed no root increase. Juncus SBFs showed a relationship with four root characteristics and Carex SBFs a showed relationship with one root characteristic and infiltration rate. This work strongly suggests plant roots increase infiltration, and thus the primary functions of SBFs. Different root characteristics appear to increase infiltration rate at different depths. Data also show larger-root biomass plants increase infiltration rate to a greater degree than smaller-root biomass plants. I recommend considering several site and facility characteristics when determining the potential for root-enhanced infiltration. When selecting plant species to enhance infiltration, I recommend using several criteria, determining root characteristic values at certain depths, considering installation approaches, and accounting for regional climate changes.

This study assessed the effect of an application of mycorrhizal fungi to stormwater filter media on urban bioswale soil and stormwater in an infiltration-based bioswale aged 20 years with established vegetation. The study tested the use of commercially available general purpose biotic soil blend PermaMatrix® BSP Foundation as a treatment to enhance Earthlite™ stormwater filter media amelioration of zinc, copper, and phosphorus in an ecologically engineered structure designed to collect and infiltrate urban stormwater runoff before it entered the nearby Willamette River. These results show that the application of PermaMatrix® BSP Foundation biotic soil amendment to Earthlite™ stormwater filter media contributed to the reduction of extractable zinc in bioswale soil (-24% and -26%), as compared to the control, which received a treatment of Earthlite™ stormwater filter media only, and experienced an increase in extractable zinc levels (23% and 39%). The results presented also show evidence that after establishment mycorrhizal treatment demonstrated lowered levels of phosphorus in bioswale soil (-41%) and stormwater (-100%), in contrast to the control, which had increased phosphorus levels. The treatment contributed to reductions between 67% and 100% in every metric detected in stormwater after an establishment period of 17 weeks, while the bioswale with no mycorrhizal treatment had increases between 50% and 117%. Treatment also appeared to enhance the reduction of ammonium and nitrates, while contributing to a greater increase in soil pH.

Copper and zinc are heavy metals commonly present in highway stormwater runoff. Discharge of these metals to surface waters inhabited by sensitive aquatic species including threatened and endangered salmonids has necessitated the need for improved treatment techniques. Although copper is of the greater toxicological concern, zinc is often present at concentrations several times higher than copper and may compete with copper during adsorptive treatment processes. In the current study, the ability biogenic fish-bone based alternative adsorbent, Apatite II™, for copper and zinc removal from synthetic stormwater runoff was evaluated. Batch experiments were employed to examine equilibrium removal and rapid small scale column tests (RSSCT) were used to simulate dynamic operation in continuous systems. In both batch and continuous systems, the release of phosphate and calcium were observed, and Apatite II™ achieved high removal efficiencies. The removal of copper and zinc was likely due to a combination of processes including adsorption, ion exchange and precipitation. Precipitation played a dominant role in copper removal and the release of phosphate and pH buffering appear to drive this process. While precipitation was also quite important for zinc removal, adsorptive removal also played a role. The findings from the current study provide a general understanding of the performance of copper and zinc removal from stormwater runoff using Apatite II™. / Graduation date: 2012