Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2019

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph. D.

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Degree Program

Civil Engineering, PhD

Committee Chair

Rockaway, Thomas

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Parola, Arthur

Committee Member

French, Mark

Committee Member

DePuy, Gail

Author's Keywords

underground detention; stone filter media; stone media; water quantity; water quality

Abstract

Underground gravel filter basins (UGF basins) are subsurface structures that are used for detention, filtration, and infiltration of stormwater runoff in urbanized areas. The application of these structures is recommended in highly developed urban areas, where land is not available or it is too expensive for surface-level green infrastructures such as stormwater ponds, bio-retention, and infiltration trenches. Objectives of this study are to assess and analyze the effectiveness of two (2) UGF basins in reducing the stormwater runoff peak flow, and to assess water quality parameters in a high-density residential area. The experimental site is located at Red Mile Village, a student housing complex in Lexington, Kentucky. During the first phase of the monitoring period (June 22 through September 19, 2017) eight storm events were analyzed for both water quality and infiltration performances. An additional six storm events were studied only for infiltration and volume reductions during the second phase of the monitoring period (September 20 through December 22, 2017. Electronic sensors (pressure transducers and rain gauges) were used to collect the precipitation and water level data continuously during the full course of this study. Grab samples were collected at the basin inflow locations, within the basins, and at the outflow of each basin to evaluate the water quality performance and pollutant load reductions during the first phase of this study. Water quality parameters that were analyzed in this study included pH, temperature, conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and E. coli which is used as an indicator of fecal contamination. The result of this study indicated that UGF basins are highly effective in cases of volume reduction and infiltrating the captured water into the underlying soil layers, as well as producing low peak discharge values. The UGF basins were also found to be effective in decreasing the temperature of runoff during summer months and reducing TSS and E. coli total loadings.

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