Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: A Sustainable Approach to Nitrate Reduction Combining a Riparian Zone with a Stream Denitrifying Biofilm

EPA Grant Number: SU834336
Title: A Sustainable Approach to Nitrate Reduction Combining a Riparian Zone with a Stream Denitrifying Biofilm
Investigators: Barone, Justin Robert , Tucker, Alex , Downs, Jennifer , Palazzolo, Jessica , Flickinger, Joshua , Breighner, Koren , Thies, Melissa , McAnulty, Mike , Kesecker, Scott
Institution: Virginia Tech
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2009 through August 14, 2010
Project Amount: $9,927
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2009) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Nanotechnology

Objective:

Nutrient pollution from excess nitrogen and phosphorous accounts for much of the water degradation in the United States. There are a variety of best management practices (BMPs) being implemented to reduce levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. However, there currently are no methods being used that combine the denitrifying processes used in wastewater treatment and the pollution prevention methods of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution management. We propose a holistic approach combining a biotechnological solution incorporated into a natural setting. We will design a sustainable stream denitrifying biofilm that can be incorporated into a uniquely designed section of a stream to biologically treat water. Clean water is essential for a naturally functioning ecosystem (planet, no hypoxia of water bodies), human health (people, water devoid of harmful chemicals and pathogens), and many industries rely on clean water such as agriculture and food processors (prosperity). We intend to couple a student-designed riparian zone with a biofilm by culturing denitrifying bacteria collected from near the stream. We then will design controlled flows in a laboratory setting to assess the amount of nitrate reduced per square meter for a controlled volume of water at various flow rates based on our design. This then can be used to design full-scale riparian zone/biofilm systems that can be incorporated into the natural stream setting. The project is part of the senior design course (BSE 4125/4126) taken the entire senior year by all of our undergraduates and participating undergraduate students would collaborate within that context.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

Our proposed truncated riparian zone could theoretically reduce 35% of nitrate under normal water flow conditions. This would be enough to reduce nitrates to EPA acceptable levels most of the time in our target stream, Stroubles Creek. The bioreactor could reduce 3.34 x 10-4 mg/L of nitrate per m² of biofilm. A moderately sized biofilm put into the stream could reduce the nitrate to EPA acceptable levels under high loading and runoff conditions. An information packet was developed to educate the public about water pollution, its economic and health impacts, and potential engineering solutions.

Conclusions:

The combination of the truncated riparian zone and the bioreactor appears to be a promising technology for nitrate reduction at a very economical price.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

bioreactor, riparian zone, biofilm

P3 Phase II:

A Sustainable Approach to Nitrate Reduction Using a Stream Denitrifying Biofilm  | 2011 Progress Report  | Final Report