Seniors in chemical, biological, and environmental engineering at Oregon State University can culminate their experience with a senior project. This year, a 2017 Senior Capstone Project Report by OSU students (CBEE 416) working with David Eckert of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition has released a “Comparative Analysis of Stormwater Pollutant Loads Mitigated by Contech Stormwater Filters on OSU Campus”. This project analyzed OSU’s CONTECH StormFilters, which are located around campus for the purpose of removing contaminants from storm water. According to our students, these filters “use a ZPG™ Media blend of zeolite, perlite, and granular activated carbon to remove total suspended solids, and to a lesser extent some soluble metals and organics.”
The study came to several conclusions, seen below:
- Initial results show that filters are not consistently meeting desired TSS (Total Suspended Solids) removal specifications
- Filter location/use may affect filter performance more than age
- Fairbanks and Johnson locations are difficult to sample due to submerged outlet pipe during nominal flow conditions
- Fairbanks location appears to be plugged, there is sludge buildup and bypass during storms smaller than design store
- Kelley location operating below design flow rate of 15 gpm
StormFilters on OSU Campus
This report was sponsored by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, the Oregon State University Capital Planning and Facilities Services, and the Oregon State University School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering. The research poster composed summarizing this information, as well as listing some suggestions for improvement, can be found here: http://bit.ly/2hZ9Wcm
CATEGORIES: Academics Research Water