Use of Vegetation to Reduce the Toxicity of Stormwater Runoff

摘要

The research determined if dead or dormant vegetation effectively reduces the toxicity of and removes pollutants from highway stormwater runoff and determined the amount of metallic pollution discharged from vegetated ditches via the transport of dead vegetation. The research also determined the type of maintenance practices that are necessary to maintain the pollutant removal capacity of vegetated channels. The research project consisted of three phases. The report presented the findings of Phase I. The tasks included a literature survey, site selection, and equipment design, fabrication and installation. Two sites were selected for the research project. The irrigation system was installed, grass seed was sown, and runoff samplers were fabricated and placed in the channel.