File(s) under permanent embargo
Variation among plant species in pollutant removal from stormwater in biofiltration systems
journal contribution
posted on 2008-02-01, 00:00 authored by J Read, Tricia WevillTricia Wevill, T Fletcher, A DeleticBiofiltration systems use vegetation to improve efficiency of pollutant removal from stormwater, but little is known of how plants vary in their capacity to improve biofilter effectiveness. We used a pot trial of 20 Australian species to investigate how species vary in the removal of pollutants from semisynthetic storm water passing through a soil filter medium. Effluent levels of total suspended solids (TSS), Al, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were similarly low for vegetated and non-vegetated soils, with reduction to <1-12% of levels in the stormwater input. N and P effluent concentrations were generally lower from vegetated than non-vegetated soils, but total N increased on average in effluent of both vegetated and non-vegetated soils relative to stormwater input. Effluent concentrations varied 2-4-fold among species for TSS, total N and P, total dissolved N (TDN), organic nitrogen and Cu, to more than 20-fold for NOx, NH4+, Mn, Pb and Fe. Species also varied markedly in pollutant removal per root mass (a means of standardising for plant size), with 18-50-fold variation among species in effluent concentrations of total P and N, TDN and organic N, to >150-fold variation in NOx and NH4+. Hence, choice of plant species may have marked effects on biofilter effectiveness.
History
Journal
Water researchVolume
42Issue
4-5Pagination
893 - 902Publisher
ElsevierLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0043-1354eISSN
1879-2448Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2007, Crown CopyrightUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
biofiltrationrunoffstormwaternitrogenmetalsAngiospermsFiltrationPhosphorusRainWater PollutantsWater PurificationScience & TechnologyTechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePhysical SciencesEngineering, EnvironmentalEnvironmental SciencesWater ResourcesEngineeringEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyCHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCEZINC REMOVALPHYTOREMEDIATIONBIORETENTIONPHYSIOLOGYEVOLUTIONECOLOGY
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC