Abstract
This research assesses the next generation of permeable pavement systems (PPS) incorporating ground source heat pumps (geothermal paving systems). Twelve experimental pilot-scaled pavement systems were assessed for its stormwater treatability in Edinburgh, UK. The relatively high variability of temperatures during the heating and cooling cycle of a ground source heat pump system embedded into the pavement structure did not allow the ecological risk of pathogenic microbial expansion and survival. Carbon dioxide monitoring indicated relatively high microbial activity on a geotextile layer and within the pavement structure. Anaerobic degradation processes were concentrated around the geotextile zone, where carbon dioxide concentrations reached up to 2000 ppm. The overall water treatment potential was high with up to 99% biochemical oxygen demand removal. The pervious pavement systems reduced the ecological risk of stormwater discharges and provided a low risk of pathogen growth.
Highlights
Harvesting of stormwater is a promising alternative water resource which can bring multiple benefits to urbanised communities
Permeable pavement systems could be seen as posing a potential health risk to humans if partially treated runoff contaminated with animal faeces is recycled for domestic use [3]
The first tube was placed at the shallowest point within the pavement structure, the second tube was placed directly below the geotextile layer where the highest microbial activity is expected to occur, the third tube was placed in the upper part of the sub-base and the fourth placed a few centimetres below in the lower sub-base
Summary
Harvesting of stormwater is a promising alternative water resource which can bring multiple benefits to urbanised communities. Permeable pavement systems could be seen as posing a potential health risk to humans if partially treated runoff contaminated with animal faeces is recycled for domestic use [3]. The study assessed the removal efficiencies of nutrients, total suspended solids, ammonia and total nitrogen, at temperatures ranging from 0 °C–22 °C. The key objectives are to assess the combined PPS and GSHP performance for an indoor and an outside rig, the water quality at the bottom (representing a worst case pollution scenario) of the tanked systems, and the microbial activities under varying temperature patterns. This study focused on the prevention of potentially water-related diseases by treating runoff contaminated with organics and faecal organisms within temperature-controlled PPS. Common symptoms associated with these diseases may include diarrhea, weight loss, nausea and low grade fever [10]
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