How Can a Distributed Stormwater Solids Management Effort Help Your Community?

Removal of stormwater pollutants is increasingly important as a tool to improve water quality. Stormwater systems are often end-of-pipe structures but in-line systems can be very effective in removing pollutants at the primary source. One option developed in North Carolina is the Trash Guard; a molded HDPE device which, when inserted into drainage structures, is designed to retain stormwater solids and engineered to deliver peak stormwater flows. The Trash-Guard retains stormwater solids, including trash and debris, sediment, vegetative materials, petroleum oil and lubricants associated with runoff from paved surfaces such as highways, parking lots, maintenance facilities, rest areas, welcome centers and other facilities. Removal of these solids at the source can have dramatic impact on stormwater quality and provide opportunity to recycle solids for beneficial use.Historically the effectiveness of stormwater systems has been assessed through measures of water quality prior to and following Best Management Practice (BMP). This study combined the water quality assessments with actual measures of pollutants removed in the test stormwater basins. The analysis of the solids removed in basins distributed through a watershed documents clearly the actual mass of pollutant removed from stormwater systems.