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home > reports > crwr online report 2006-02

 

Water Quality Performance of a Batch Type Stormwater Detention Basin

by John Rob Middleton, MSE, Joseph F. Malina, PhD, and Michael E. Barrett, PhD

ABSTRACT

Extended detention basins are not used for stormwater quality management in many areas of the US because they generally do not achieve the 80% removal of total suspended solids required by many regulatory agencies. The objective of this research was modification of the outlet controls of an existing basin to provide batch treatment of the urban stormwater runoff through efficient control of the hydraulic residence time. A solar powered automated valve and controller were developed and placed on the outlet of an extended detention basin in Austin, Texas to increase the detention time beyond the times achievable using an orifice. This system retained the diverted runoff in the basin for a variable preset period of time. The quality of the influent and effluent of the basin was monitored for concentrations of suspended solids, nutrients, chemical oxygen demand, and total and dissolved metals. The suspended solids concentrations in the basin were controlled by adjusting the residence time of the runoff in the basin to meet the required pollutant reduction. The automated valve can also be used to regulate flow into the receiving waters to control peak flow.


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These materials may be used for study, research, and education, but please credit the authors and the Center for Research in Water Resources, The University of Texas at Austin. All commercial rights reserved. Copyright 2002 Center for Research in Water Resources.