The goal of this research was to compare the pollutant removal effectiveness of biofiltration systems containing different media and plant species. A laboratory column study was conducted using three media and two plant species, each with and without a submerged zone intended to promote denitrification. Twenty experiments using synthetic stormwater were run over the course of nine months and ten of them were analyzed. The three media used were concrete sand, masonry sand, and a medium that meets the City of Austin biofiltration specifications. The plant species were Buffalograss 609 and Big Muhly, both commonly found in Texas. The results of this study show a significant improvement in nutrient removal with the presence of plants in the filter. The columns without plants were found to export substantial amounts of nitrateitrite, whereas the columns with plants demonstrated substantial removal of nutrients (total nitrogen 59-79% and total phosphorus 77-94%). Solids removal remained high through the entire set of experiments for all the columns (88-97%).
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