Trapping Phosphorus in Runoff with a Phosphorus Removal Structure

Reduction of phosphorus (P) inputs to surface waters may decrease eutrophication. Some researchers have proposed filtering dissolved P in runoff with P‐sorptive byproducts in structures placed in hydrologically active areas with high soil P concentrations. The objectives of this study were to constr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental quality 2012-05, Vol.41 (3), p.672-679
Main Authors: Penn, Chad J., McGrath, Joshua M., Rounds, Elliott, Fox, Garey, Heeren, Derek
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agrochemicals
Alkalinity
Animals
Aquatic life
Pesticides
Phosphorus - chemistry
Polyvinyl chloride
Trapping
Water Movements
Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry
Water Purification - methods
Water quality
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Summary:Reduction of phosphorus (P) inputs to surface waters may decrease eutrophication. Some researchers have proposed filtering dissolved P in runoff with P‐sorptive byproducts in structures placed in hydrologically active areas with high soil P concentrations. The objectives of this study were to construct and monitor a P removal structure in a suburban watershed and test the ability of empirically developed flow‐through equations to predict structure performance. Steel slag was used as the P sorption material in the P removal structure. Water samples were collected before and after the structure using automatic samples and analyzed for total dissolved P. During the first 5 mo of structure operation, 25% of all dissolved P was removed from rainfall and irrigation events. Phosphorus was removed more efficiently during low flow rate irrigation events with a high retention time than during high flow rate rainfall events with a low retention time. The six largest flow events occurred during storm flow and accounted for 75% of the P entering the structure and 54% of the P removed by the structure. Flow‐through equations developed for predicting structure performance produced reasonable estimates of structure “lifetime” (16.8 mo). However, the equations overpredicted cumulative P removal. This was likely due to differences in pH, total Ca and Fe, and alkalinity between the slag used in the structure and the slag used for model development. This suggests the need for an overall model that can predict structure performance based on individual material properties.
ISSN:0047-2425
1537-2537
DOI:10.2134/jeq2011.0045