Treatment of parking lot stormwater using a StormTreat system

Environ Sci Technol. 2002 Oct 15;36(20):4441-6. doi: 10.1021/es020797p.

Abstract

The effectiveness of a StormTreat system in treating stormwater from a commercial parking lot in Connecticut was evaluated. Flow-weighted composite samples were collected from StormTreat inflow and outflow during a 2-yr study. Bypass flow was not monitored. The StormTreat significantly (P < 0.05) reduced total suspended solids, total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl-N, total zinc, total copper, and fecal coliform bacteria on a concentration basis. The StormTreat system retained 49% total suspended solids, 74% total phosphorus, 44% total Kjeldahl-N, 45% total zinc, 29% total copper, 2% total lead on a mass basis, and 99% fecal coliform on a concentration basis. Treatment efficiency was not associated with storm size, chamber stage, discharge rate, or hydraulic retention time (r < 0.355). The system retained ammonia-N more efficiently during the summer than during the winter (P < 0.01) and retained total zinc less efficiently during the summer than during the winter (P < 0.05). Season did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect the treatment of other monitored water quality variables. The StormTreat system reduced the concentrations of stormwater pollutants commonly found in parking lot runoff.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Filtration
  • Metals, Heavy / isolation & purification
  • Rain*
  • Seasons
  • Vehicle Emissions
  • Water Movements*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Vehicle Emissions