Author(s): William F. Hunt; Jacqueline K. Mcnett; Allen P. Davis; Robert G. Traver
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Low Impact Development; SUDS; Performance metrics; Bioretention; Stormwater management; Pollutants; Hydrology
Abstract: Stormwater experts agree that the currently used percent removal methodology metric has many flaws, particularly for Low Impact Development (LID). Evaluating a practice on the percent removal of a pollutant can lead to a suspect conclusion that a given practice is performing well (i.e., has a high percent removal) when it actually is treating extremely dirty inflow, or the faulty conclusion that a practice is performing poorly (i.e., has a low percent removal) when it receives clean influent and releases clean effluent (Strecker et al., 2001). Performance metrics are needed to account for target effluent concentrations and volumetric and peak flow rate reduction. The purpose of this paper is to present a new metric whose goals can be used in LID and present them using data collected on bioretention cells in Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. This paper will also specifically examine a new method that establishes effluent target concentrations for management practices based on the health of macro-invertebrates in the receiving water.
Year: 2010