Potential of Biofilters for Treatment of De-Icing Chemicals

Organic de-icing chemicals, such as propylene glycol and potassium formate, cause environmental degradation in receiving water if left untreated, due to the high organic load resulting in oxygen depletion. Biofilters are commonly used for the treatment of biodegradable organic carbon in water treatment. This study investigated the potential for using biofilters for treating organic de-icing compounds. Lab-scale adsorption tests using filter media made of crushed clay (Filtralite) and granular activated carbon were conducted. Further, a column filtration experiment testing two different crushed clay size ranges was carried out investigating the effect of filter media depth, nutrient addition, and filtration rate. The surrogate parameter used to monitor the removal of de-icing chemicals was dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The adsorption test showed no significant adsorption of DOC was observed. The column test showed that the most active separation occurred in the first ~20 cm of the filter depth. This was confirmed by results from (1) water quality analysis (i.e., DOC removal and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) measurement); and (2) calculations based on a filtration performance analysis (Iwasaki model) and filter hydraulic evaluation (Lindquist diagram). The results showed that, for the highest C:N:P ratio tested (molar ratio of 24:7:1), 50–60% DOC removal was achieved. The addition of nutrients was found to be important for determining the biofilter performancepublishedVersio

Towards improving the hydrologic design of permeable pavements

The common approach to the hydrologic design of permeable pavements (PPs) uses synthetic rainfall events. This study assessed the validity of the design approach using synthetic rainfall events for undrained PP. Synthetic rainfall events (25-year return period) were used to design undrained pavements for five Norwegian cities. The effectiveness of these pavements was tested using long-term simulation (12–30 years) with high temporal resolution (1 min). The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was used to generate time series of surface runoff for PPs and flow duration curves were applied to analyse the hydrological performances. Designing PP using synthetic rainfall events was found to underestimate the storage layer depth of the permeable pavements leading to the frequent occurrence of surface runoff, which is considered a failure of the hydrologic design of undrained pavements. Long-term simulation of surface runoff was found to provide valuable information for the hydrologic design of PP and can be used as a basis for the PP hydrologic design. In the future, it is recommended to use long-term precipitation data generated from climate change models to incorporate the effect of climate change in the design of PP.publishedVersio

An assessment of gully pot sediment scour behaviour under current and potential future rainfall conditions

Gully pots actively trap sediments transported by urban runoff to prevent in-pipe blockages and surface flooding. However, due to poor maintenance (resulting in sediment build-up) and increasingly extreme wet weather events, the scour of previously-deposited sediments from gully pots is identified as a potential contributor to EU Water Framework Directive failure. While basal sediment scour deterministic models have been developed and validated using laboratory and field gully pot data sets, the ability of these models to predict behaviour at sites other than those for which they were established has not been addressed. Nor has the impact of future rainfall predictions on the role of gully pots as sediment sources been systematically examined. As a contribution to addressing these knowledge gaps, the performance of two gully pot basal sediment scour models of distinct complexity levels are evaluated under current and future rainfall conditions. The output from Model One suggests that the scour-induced total suspended solids in gully pot discharge can be kept well below 25 mg/L if the gully pot fullness level is maintained at under 60%. Results identify the opportunity to incorporate the actual/targeted ecological status of recipients in scheduling gully pot maintenance operations and that proactive gully pots maintenance will reduce the impacts of increased rainfall intensity/duration on the magnitude of sediment scour. Results from Model Two suggest that fine sediments are particularly susceptible to in-pot scour. For example, sediment with a specific gravity of 1.1 and diameter of >63 μm accounts for 50% of scour-induced total suspended solids in gully pot discharge. The effluent suspended solids concentrations predicted by the two models differ by up to two orders of magnitude. However, without further empirical field data pertaining to their respective competences/applications, neither model could be discounted at this stage. For example, the use of Model One is more appropriate in the establishment of gully pot maintenance schedules, with Model Two more suited to the dimensioning of gully pots based on performance requirements. This application, however, relies on the development and adoption of a more stringent regulation on gully pots discharge

Ethics of Climate Change Adaptation -The Case of Torrential Rains in Norway

This article analyses adaptation to climate induced challenges in form of torrential rains hitting urban landscapes in Norway with increased frequency. Specifically, it investigates the influence of the industry structure on ethical challenges when the climate changes. A meta-analysis of the scientific output from a major multi-disciplinary research program is carried out. In addition, the methods include use of expert opinions, literature review and document studies. Climate change adaptation challenges disciplines within civil engineering and natural sciences. Following this, established practices need alteration as specialists face new ethical challenges. Practical climate change adaptation requires the ability to overcome silo mentality among the involved disciplines. Challenges involve acknowledging responsibility, transparency, and information quality. Engineering takes place in an environment of incomplete knowledge. In addition, there is a high degree of decentralised decision-making and directives, and laws and regulations are often lagging after the experienced challenges. Consequently, individual experts experience increased ethical challenges. Systemic circumstances apprehension is necessary for reducing societal risks within climate change adaptation. Both education of engineers and cooperation between specialists from different disciplines is needed to master the altered framework conditions.publishedVersio

Evaluating the stormwater management model for hydrological simulation of infiltration swales in cold climates

The Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) is a widely used tool for assessing the hydrological performance of infiltration swales. However, validating the accuracy of SWMM simulation against observed data has been challenging, primarily because well-functioning infiltration swales rarely produce surface runoff, especially over short monitoring periods. This study addresses this challenge by using measured subsurface water storage levels for calibration and validation. The study evaluated three SWMM modules, namely, the snowpack, aquifer, and low-impact development (LID) modules, to simulate subsurface water storage levels of an infiltration swale located in a cold climate region during snow and snow-free periods. Global sensitivity analysis was used to identify influential parameters within these modules. The findings revealed that only a few parameters significantly influenced model outputs. Moreover, the aquifer module outperformed the LID module in simulating subsurface water storage due to limitations in setting the initial saturation of the LID module. Furthermore, simulation accuracy was better during snow-free periods due to challenges in simulating snow dynamics during snow periods with the snowpack module. The calibrated models offer valuable insights into the long-term hydrological performance of infiltration swales, enabling practitioners to identify events that trigger flooding in these systems.publishedVersio

Practice makes the model: a critical review of stormwater green infrastructure modelling practice

Green infrastructures (GIs) have in recent decades emerged as sustainable technologies for urban stormwater management, and numerous studies have been conducted to develop and improve hydrological models for GIs. This review aims to assess current practice in GI hydrological modelling, encompassing the selection of model structure, equations, model parametrization and testing, uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, the selection of objective functions for model calibration, and the interpretation of modelling results. During a quantitative and qualitative analysis, based on a paper analysis methodology applied across a sample of 270 published studies, we found that the authors of GI modelling studies generally fail to justify their modelling choices and their alignments between modelling objectives and methods. Some practices, such as uncertainty analysis, were also found to be limited, despite their necessity being widely acknowledged by the scientific community and their application in other fields. In order to improve current GI modelling practice, the authors suggest the following: i) a framework, called STAMP, designed to promote the standardisation of the documentation of GI modelling studies, and ii) improvements in modelling tools for facilitating good practices, iii) the sharing of data for better model testing, iv) the evaluation of the suitability of hydrological equations for GI application, v) the publication of clear statements regarding model limitations and negative results.publishedVersio

Bioretention as a Sustainable Stormwater Management Option in Cold Climates

Two pilot size bioretention boxes were constructed for field investigations at the Risvollan Urban Hydrological Research Station in Trondheim. The seasonal pollutant retention, hydraulic lag times, and rainfall runoff versus snowmelt chemo dynamics have been studied with respect to zinc, copper, and lead. The field investigations were divided into four parts; a long term continuous hydrologic performance, heavy metal retention of rainfall runoff during different seasons, and heavy metal retention from roadside snowmelt. The chemo dynamic pathways through the system were investigated for the warm versus the cold season, and rainfall runoff versus snowmelt. Overall the results showed consistent high retention of particles and total metals with respect to concentrations and mass removal, with more than 90% mass removal of total zinc and more than 85% mass retention of lead, while copper retention varied from 46% to 86% by mass. However increases in dissolved fractions through the system for all events in the case of copper and for the snowmelt events in the case of zinc could lead to an increase of bioavailable dissolved metals in the outflow which is not desirable. The top mulch layer was identified as the largest sink of metals and particles, which helped avoid clogging the soil due to high particle concentrations in the inflow. The plants did show some ability to retain and absorb metals in the roots and shoot, however this was less than 5% of the total metal retention. The plants had a more important function in improving root zone infiltration, and rejuvenating the system in the spring every year, making it a valuable green space in the urban landscape. Snow storage was also considered and it was found that snow storage, dependent on annual snow volume, quickly became a deciding design parameter with respect to sizing

Hydrological modelling of green and grey roofs in cold climate with the SWMM model

Rooftop retrofitting targets the largest land-use type available for reduction in impervious surfaces area in urban areas. Extensive green and grey roofs offer solution for retention and detention of stormwater in densely developed urban areas. Among the available green roof types, the extensive green roof has become a popular selection and commonly adopted choice. These solutions provide multiple benefits for stormwater and environmental management due to stormwater retention and detention capacities. The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) 5.1.012 with Low Impact Development (LID) Controls was used to model the hydrological performance of a green and a grey (non-vegetated detention roof based on extruded lightweight aggregates) roof (located in the coastal area of Trondheim, Norway) by defining the physical parameters of individual layers in LID Control editor. High-resolution 1-min data from a previously monitored green and grey roof were used for calibration. Six parameters within the individual LID layers: soil (four parameters) and drainage mat (two parameters) were selected for calibration. After calibration, the SWMM model simulated runoff with a Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSME) of 0.94 (green roof) and 0.78 (grey roof) and a volume error of 3% for the green roof, and 10% for the grey roof. Validation of the calibrated model indicates good fit between observed and simulated runoff with a NSME of 0.88 (green roof) and 0.81 (grey roof) and with volume errors of 29% (green roof) and 11% (grey roof). Concerning the snowmelt modelling, the calibrated model showed a NSME of 0.56 (green roof) and 0.37 (grey roof) through the winter period. However, regarding volume errors, additional model development for winter conditions is needed; 30% (green roof) and 11% (grey roof). Optimal parameter sets were proposed within both the green and grey configurations. The results from calibration and especially validation indicated that SWMM could be used to simulate the performance of different rooftop solutions. The study provides insight for urban planners of how to target and focus the implementation of rooftop solutions as stormwater measures

Fordrøyende tak

Vegetasjon i form av grønne tak eller et filtermedium som fordrøyer regnvann i et blågrått tak, kan være en viktig bidragsyter for bedre overvannshåndtering og mindre press på hardt belastede avløpssystemer. Klima 2050 forsker på dette i reelle forsøksoppsett

Finn de beste stedene for infiltrasjon av overvann

Regnbed, grønne grøfter og permeable dekker er viktige elementer i overvannshåndteringen i byer, men de må plasseres på steder med tilstrekkelig infiltrasjonskapasitet. Forskere ved SINTEF og NTNU foreslår en ny metode for å velge riktig plassering