Iron enhanced sand filtration (IESF) is an advanced stormwater treatment practice designed to capture particulate pollutants by filtration and soluble phosphorus (phosphate) by sorption to iron oxide. In small scale laboratory tests using synthetic runoff, this technology captured nearly 90% of the influent phosphate. Subsequent full-scale installations in urban watersheds subject to natural rainfall and runoff events had phosphate capture rates ranging from 25% to 75%. These urban installations included the more common surface sand filter as well as the pond-perimeter sand filter trench. In another application, a surface sand filter was installed to treat tile drainage flow from an agricultural watershed. This site was also monitored and found to remove approximately 65% of the both influent phosphate and total phosphorus. These studies represent different applications, in different watersheds, over different segments of the lifespan of IESFs. This presentation will summarize these studies and include an analysis of IESF performance with respect to the age of the practice, influent conditions, and filter size relative to the annual inflow volume. Based on results, recommendations for different applications will be made on the sizing, expected maintenance activities and corresponding frequencies, and the expected lifespan of IESFs.

Iron enhanced sand filters for removing stormwater phosphate: Results from laboratory, urban, and agricultural studies

2019 Fall National Meeting

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