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Assessing BMP Performance Using Microtox Toxicity Analysis
Citation:
Komlos, J., A. ROWE, S. Clark, R. Traver, AND M. K. STINSON. Assessing BMP Performance Using Microtox Toxicity Analysis. Presented at Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium, Villanova, PA, October 13 - 15, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been shown to be effective in reducing runoff and pollutants from urban areas and thus provide a mechanism to improve downstream water quality. Currently, BMP performance regarding water quality improvement is assessed through measuring each individual contaminant of concern at different locations throughout the BMP to quantify the magnitude of loss of each contaminant. Cumulative pollutant removal from these sampling locations is often used to determine BMP water quality performance. The research that will be presented examines the ability of using only one parameter (Microtox toxicity analysis) to assess the overall improvement of water quality in a BMP. Three BMPs were used for this analysis; a raingarden used to treat parking lot runoff, a subsurface catchment collecting runoff from a parking garage, and a constructed wetland designed for stormwater abatement. Results show a decrease in toxicity as the water passes through the BMPs (although the extent of toxicity reduction varies for each BMP). The correlation between toxicity reduction and contaminant (copper, lead, chromium, cadmium, chloride, nitrogen, phosphorus) removal will be discussed.
URLs/Downloads:
Conference Information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION_PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 5 KB, about PDF)
VUSP Website