Project Number: 1265-12000-037-17
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 25, 2007
End Date: Jul 01, 2009

Objective:
Cooperate in conducting experiments to identify the extent and time pattern of contaminants in runoff water from APHIS building, BARC-East, and methods to remove contaminants from runoff waters. Building has Pb-Cu exterior and runoff from building enters surface water. New management requirement requires that this contamination source be controlled. Test use of compost filter socks or mats to remove metals and phosphate from APHIS runoff. Design treatment system which will control the metals and phosphate release from this facility.

Approach:
1) Collect and analyze runoff samples from side of Pb-Cu covered building, and from parking lots, using flow-weighted sampler device to establish the time pattern of pollutant release to runoff waters; 2) Test ability of different compost or iron-manganese amended compost materials to filter contaminants from APHIS runoff sources; 3) Evaluate different methods to manage contaminated water treatment by compost in tube or mat within plastic mesh; 4) Design treatment system which will accommodate concentrations and timing, with specifications for compost composition needed to prevent pollutants from exceeding limits in water released after treatment; and 5) Monitor installed treatment system to determine how well it prevents transfer of pollutants to local surface water.