Passive sediment control bmps. How do they rank over time?

Brian H. Whitaker, Kevin B. Wolfe

In the proceedings of: GeoMontréal 2013: 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 11th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Geosynthetics - Environmental and Transportation

ABSTRACT: Historically, long-term performance data for construction storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been virtually non-existent. Performance data that does exist is associated with short-term performance test protocols. The need for innovative structures backed by long-term performance data for construction BMPs is essential as increased regulatory requirements affect the construction industry. Performance data from passive construction BMPs for time durations associated with a typical construction projects are useful as engineers struggle to design passive treatment trains to meet demanding effluent standards. In September 2009 work began on the operation of a full-scale applied research project to determine the long-term sediment-control performance capabilities for two conventional, non-proprietary passive BMPs and a proprietary passive BMP. This information can be used as to assist in the development of design approaches for storm water treatment trains.

RÉSUMÉ: Historiquement, les données liées au comportement à long terme des constructions soumises à des précipitations exceptionnelles sont pratiquement inexistantes. Généralement, les protocoles de test des performances hydrauliques sont relatifs à des comportements à court terme. Les données associées aux performances à long terme durant les phases de constructions sont nécessaires notamment pour les ouvrages innovants répondant aux critères de meilleure gestion des eaux de ruissellement. La prise en compte des eaux exceptionnelles est importante car elles menacent La bonne gestion des eaux de ruissellement durant les phases de travaux est indispensable et un travail conséquent des ingénieurs est fait pour concevoir notamment des zones de traitement des eaux et ainsi répondre au mieux aux exigences en vigueur. En Septembre 2009 un projet expérimental de grande ampleur a été lancé. Il devait permettre de déterminer les performances t ou non, les critères de bonne gestion des eaux de ruissellement. 1. Introduction Historically, long-term performance data for construction storm water BMPs has been virtually non-existent. The body of performance data that does exists is primarily associated with single pass flows through the passive sediment-control BMP and/or short-term performance test protocols. The need for long-term performance data for construction BMPs is becoming crucial as fines for violations steadily increase. In June of 2012, the EPA announced that homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc. was to pay $741,000 fine related to the storm water runoff and in-house controls. As these large-scale fines become increasingly common, it is in the best interest of the industry to identify and implement effective storm water controls backed by long-term research results. Long-term performance is defined as the performance analysis over a time duration consistent with the actual time associated with typical construction projects. Construction projects can last as short as 3 months for home building projects to nearly two years for large commercial and road-building projects. Such performance data for effluent variability from passive construction BMPs for time durations associated with a typical construction project are far more useful and relevant, as engineers struggle to design passive treatment trains in the field to meet more demanding effluent quality standards. In September 2009, Fiberweb, Inc. and Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) began the operation of a full-scale applied research project to determine the long-term sediment-control performance capabilities for two conventional passive BMPs and a proprietary passive BMP, with the cooperation of the Williamson County, Tennessee government, a test site was identified and constructed at the Williamson County landfill facility in Leipers Fork, Tennessee, southwest of Nashville. The goal from this work was to examine, over an extended period of time, the variability in effluent turbidity from the given sediment-control BMPs over an extended time period, where the BMPs will be subjected to multiple storm events of varying intensities and runoff volumes. The goal was to also observe changes in effluent turbidity over time as materials degrade, are damaged, and/or become clogged. This information will be part of a growing body

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