The Control of Pollution in Highway Runoff Through Biofiltration: Volume 1

Report No: 95-R28

Published in 1995

About the report:

Biofiltration is the process of filtering polluted water through vegetation to remove pollutants. Pollutants may be removed through settling, infiltration, and adsorption to sediment and vegetation. This report summarizes the findings of three parallel studies into the use of biofiltration to remove pollutants from highway runoff. A grassed swale and buffer strip were examined for their ability to remove pollutants including total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), and zinc (Zn). Secondly, laboratory tests of some wetland species determined their ability to remove these pollutants from highway runoff. Finally, rainfall-runoff data collected at the grassed swale and other sources were used to examine the applicability of several hydrologic methods to very small watersheds. The results of these parallel studies contribute to an understanding, of biofiltration and stormwater runoff management.

Documents

95-R28

_{Disclaimer Statement:The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.}

Authors

Shaw L. Yu, Robert J. Kaighn, Shih-Long Liao, Christienne E. O'Flaherty

Last updated: December 18, 2023