This study investigated the effectiveness of bioretention as a stormwater management practice using repetitive bioretention columns for phosphorus removal. Bioretention media, with a higher short-term phosphorus sorption capacity, retained more phosphorus from infiltrating runoff after 3 mg/L phosphorus loading. A surface mulch layer prevented clogging after repetitive total suspended solids in...

Bioretention is a low-impact technology used for the treatment of stormwater runoff in developed areas. The fates of mineral nitrogen compounds in two bioretention columns (RP1 and RP2) with different media-layering characteristics were investigated under multiple loadings of simulated urban runoff. The immediate capture of nitrogen was evaluated, with nitrogen transformation reactions that occ...

Current design of bioretention systems is intended to intercept and retain stormwater, enhance infiltration, and remove organic particulates, nutrients, pathogens, metals, and other contaminants using natural processes that derive from the interactions of water, soil, microbes, plants, and animals. Most bioretention systems function as isolated patches of various shapes and sizes surrounded by ...

Bioretention, also known as rain garden, allows stormwater to soak into the ground through a soil-based medium, leading to removal of particulate and dissolved pollutants and reduced peak flows. Although soil organic matter (SOM) is efficient at sorbing many pollutants, amending the bioretention medium with highly effective adsorbents has been proposed to optimize pollutant removal and extend b...

Coal tar sealcoats applied to asphalt surfaces in North America, east of the Continental Divide, are enriched in petroleum-derived compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The release of PAHs and other chemicals from sealcoat has the potential to contaminate nearby water bodies, reducing the resiliency of aquatic communities. Despite this, relatively little is known about t...

This article presents the elements involved in the design of a bioretention planter/trench infiltration-detention system as part of a very large-scale urban retrofit project. The prototype system was designed to intercept all of the runoff from a synthetic 5.08-mm 24-h rainfall event. Diverted flows were conveyed into bioretention planter for treatment. The bioretention systems were fingerprint...

Bioretention cells are incorporated as part of low impact development LID because of their ability to release influent runoff as exfiltration to the soil or evapotranspiration to the atmosphere. However, little care is taken as to the techniques used to excavate bioretention cells, and there is little concern as to the soil-moisture condition during excavation. Certain excavation techniques and...

This study investigated the removal effectiveness of Escherichia coli by five pilot bioretention units with different vegetations. The bioretention units were originally planted or seeded with one of the following vegetation: shrubs, grass species specified for Texas highway applications, Texas native grasses, Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), and none (control unit). To mimic highway conditions...

Three bioretention field sites in North Carolina were examined for pollutant removal abilities and hydrologic performance. The cells varied by fill media type or drainage configuration. The field studies confirmed high annual total nitrogen mass removal rates at two conventionally drained bioretention cells 40% reduction each . Nitrate-nitrogen mass removal rates varied between 75 and 13%, and ...

The latest research on stormwater practices and their construction indicates that innovative construction methods can reduce soil compaction and enhance exfiltration from bioretention cells and permeable pavement. In this publication, we summarize the current research and describe construction methods that developers can use to more effectively meet the goals of low impact development and storm...