2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

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5/24/2021  |   8:30 AM - 10:30 AM   |  IMPACTS OF STORMWATER PULSES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND IN TREATING INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS   |  Virtual Platform

IMPACTS OF STORMWATER PULSES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND IN TREATING INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

The H-02 wetland system regulates pH and removes metals, primarily Cu and Zn, from an effluent line on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, SC, USA. Effluents are maintained below regulatory limits during base flows. However, biomonitors accumulated higher than expected Cu concentrations downstream of the wetland. Stormwater pulses may reduce the wetland’s effectiveness at metal removal, allowing greater quantities of Cu and Zn to flow downstream. Automated water samplers located upstream and downstream of the treatment cells collected hourly water samples and water quality data. Total and dissolved Cu and Zn concentrations were determined. Storm severity influenced discharge, metal concentrations, fluxes, and form of mobilized metals. Wetland responses changed over time. A first-flush during severe storms elevated metal concentrations, metal flux, and total suspended solids with most Cu being associated with particulates. Later, concentrations, metal flux, and TSS were lower with most Cu in the dissolved phase. Multiple days of elevated discharge resulted in greater metal loads leaving the retention basin and wetland treatment cells. Treatment cells appeared overloaded during large storms. However, more metals entered than left the wetland, so impacts to the receiving stream were reduced.

  • Storms
  • Pollution
  • Transport

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Presenters/Authors

Christina Fulghum (), Savannah River Ecology Laboratory-University of Georgia, cfulghum@uga.edu;


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Paul Stankus (), Savannah River Ecology Laboratory-University of Georgia, stankus@srel.uga.edu;


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Dean Fletcher (), Savannah River Ecology Laboratory-University of Georgia, fletcher@srel.uga.edu;


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