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Assessing BMP Performance Using Microtox Toxicity Analysis - Rhode Island
Citation:
Komlos, J., A. ROWE, S. Clark, R. G. Traver, AND M. K. STINSON. Assessing BMP Performance Using Microtox Toxicity Analysis - Rhode Island. Presented at EWRI/ASCE World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2010, Challenges of Change, Providence, RI, May 16 - 20, 2010.
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 the 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. All three sites were monitored during storm events for a variety of water quality parameters (i.e. copper, lead, chromium, cadmium, chloride, nitrogen, and phosphorus) and compared to concurrent toxicity analysis from each storm. Sampling occurred at influent, surface water (ponded), and effluent (overflow) locations. Pore water samples were also collected (via lysimeters) at various depths below two of the BMPs. Results show a decrease in toxicity as the water passes through the BMPs (although the extent of toxicity reduction varied for each BMP). These results, as well as seasonal tracking of toxicity and the correlation between toxicity reduction and contaminant removal, will be discussed.
