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Experimental approaches to inform stormwater modeling during emergency response and recovery- Poster
Citation:
Ratliff, K., A. Mikelonis, AND W. Calfee. Experimental approaches to inform stormwater modeling during emergency response and recovery- Poster. Presented at American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 09 - 13, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
This poster presents research that is being conducted in the Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response to better understand contaminant fate and transport processes and to better parameterize stormwater models, which can be used during emergency response and recovery efforts to track contamination over time. This research is of interest to scientists, modelers, and stakeholders including decision makers involved in resource allocation and developing decontamination plans.
Description:
Following a terrorist attack or natural disaster, contamination could be spread broadly throughout the environment. The intentional or accidental release of chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) agents is particularly concerning in large cities, where densely populated areas and complex infrastructure pose unique challenges during emergency response and remediation activities. The National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts research to develop tools and technologies that enhance response and recovery capabilities following a contamination incident. Because site remediation can take months or even years, understanding the fate and transport of CBR agents is a primary concern. For example, precipitation can further spread contamination and degrade water quality. Since many CBR agents are challenging to detect, modeling tools can be used to estimate the magnitude and extent of contamination over time. NHSRC has been using the EPA Stormwater Management Model (SWMM5) to model the spread of CBR agents and has expanded the pollutant-related functionality of the SWMM5 Application Programming Interface (API) and its Python wrapper, PySWMM. Because numerical water quality modeling requires washoff processes to be represented mathematically, NHSRC has also been conducting various lab and field-scale studies to better understand and quantify washoff mechanisms. Here we will discuss results from a six-month long outdoor study in which concrete and asphalt pads were inoculated with a non-pathogenic biological agent simulant. The study site and contaminant loadings were subsequently monitored over time via in-person sampling and by sensors outfitted with interactive telemetry pods. Complimentary indoor lab experiments with a 26 ft. tall rainfall simulator also constrain washoff rates over a range of rainfall intensities. With improved parameterizations, the stormwater models can then be used to aid decision makers in making informed choices about decontamination strategies and protecting public health. Although NHSRC research is focused specifically on CBR agents, the lab and field study designs, custom-built sensor telemetry, and expanded SWMM5 API are broadly relevant to a range of contamination and water quality issues.