A detention basin/artificial wetland treatment system to renovate stormwater runoff from urban, highway, and industrial areas

Abstract

Stormwater runoff from urban, highway, industrial, residential, and commercial areas has become recognized as an important non-point source pollutant. Many nutrients and toxic substances present in stormwater run-off are strongly associated with particulate material and are removable by sedimentation. Design criteria for a detention basin/artificial wetland treatment system (DBAWTS) to renovate, stormwater runoff from urban, highway, and industrial areas, have been developed. A detention basin with an underdrain filter coupled to an artificial wetland consisting of a shallow marsh planted withTypha spp. is used to filter and absorb nutrients and contaminants in stormwater runoff. Phosphorus, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and toxic refractory organic substances will be removed through sedimentation and absorption within the wetland. Anaerobic sediments in the,Typha marsh will remove nitrates through denitrification. This system will provide effective, low-cost, low maintenance treatment of stormwater runoff from urban, highway, and industrial areas.