Title: Hydraulics stability of compost-based filtration media

Authors: Othman Al-Mashaqbeh, Robert G. McLaughlan

Addresses: Institute for Water and Environmental Resource Management (IWERM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia. ' Institute for Water and Environmental Resource Management (IWERM), University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia

Abstract: The longevity of compost-based storm water filtration systems has not been widely studied. Hydraulic conductivity measurements of compost amended sand media (20% and 50% v/v) within columns were undertaken. The results show that the filtration media in both columns had a reduction in the total saturated hydraulic conductivity. A tracer test showed there was no blockage due to biological or chemical fouling of the compost-sand (20% v/v) media. Particle size distributions results for the compost-sand (50% v/v) media suggest that there was minor degradation of compost particles. It appears gas production causing physical blockage was the most likely cause of the decline. It is recommended that compost filters are not run continuously but have drying periods which would allow any gas build-up to escape.

Keywords: storm water filtration; hydraulic conductivity; clogging; compost; sand filters; gas production; drying; urban runoff treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2009.021577

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.10 No.1, pp.46 - 55

Published online: 30 Nov 2008 *

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