A Low-Cost High-Capacity Portable Stormwater Treatment System for Emerging Contaminants

The State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have limited right-of-way (ROW) to construct stormwater treatment controls. Hence innovative self-contained portable stormwater treatment systems are needed to reduce impacts on streams, and other waters; recreation facilities, and habitat by addressing emerging stormwater pollutants, particularly the suspended and dissolved pollutants from highway construction and urban stormwater runoff.A primary pollutant of concern is 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q), which is an automobile tire by-product that finds its way into storm water and is has been reported to be killing Coho salmon in the Pacific Northwest.Research suggests that that it is among the most toxic chemicals known for aquatic organisms with Coho mortality occurring at ∼0.1 ppb (100 ppt). To address this problem, TDA, in partnership with Fabco Industries, Inc. is proposing to develop a portable stormwater treatment system based on TDA’s novel sorbent that removes 6PPD-q from stormwater down to levels significantly lower than ~0.1 ppb (100 ppt). This sorbent will be designed to efficiently remove 6PPD-q (as well as other emerging contaminants such as PFAS (per-and polyfluoralkyl substances), fertilizers, pesticides, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals) just before the stormwater is discharged into the receiving water bodies.