Pacific Southwest Research Station

Urban Stormwater Fine SedimentFiltration Using Granular Perlite

Full title: Urban stormwater fine sediment filtration using granular perlite

Lead Researchers: Michael Alexander and Russ Wigart, El Dorado County Department of Transportation

Abstract

The infiltration of stormwater is not always practical as a treatment BMP in the Lake Tahoe basin, so an effective and economical treatment alternative is needed. The operation of manned sedimentation or filtration systems for stormwater is not technically or economically feasible. Granular Perlite has been tested and utilized as an unmanned stormwater filter media. However, the benefits and costs relative to improving Lake Tahoe clarity are not well understood. In order to further the understanding of the benefits and costs of a perlite filter media as a treatment BMP in the Lake Tahoe basin, El Dorado County proposes to conduct full scale testing of this BMP in an existing urban stormwater system that currently discharges directly to Trout Creek.