Premium
Effects of Temperature on Bacterial Transport and Destruction in Bioretention Media: Field and Laboratory Evaluations
Author(s) -
Zhang Lan,
Seagren Eric A.,
Davis Allen P.,
Karns Jeffrey S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143012x13280358613589
Subject(s) - bioretention , indicator bacteria , environmental science , stormwater , bacteria , surface runoff , environmental engineering , water quality , environmental chemistry , fecal coliform , chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , biology , geotechnical engineering , genetics , engineering
Microbial activities are significantly influenced by temperature. This study investigated the effects of temperature on the capture and destruction of bacteria from urban stormwater runoff in bioretention media using 2‐year field evaluations coupled with controlled laboratory column studies. Field data from two bioretention cells show that the concentration of indicator bacteria (fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli ) was reduced during most storm events, and that the probability of meeting specific water quality criteria in the discharge was increased. Indicator bacteria concentration in the input flow typically increased with higher daily temperature. Although bacterial removal efficiency was independent of temperature in the field and laboratory, column tests showed that bacterial decay coefficients in conventional bioretention media (CBM) increase exponentially with elevated temperature. Increases in levels of protozoa and heterotrophic bacteria associated with increasing temperature appear to contribute to faster die‐off of trapped E. coli in CBM via predation and competition.