Project Number: 1265-12000-037-13
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Oct 01, 2006
End Date: Sep 30, 2009

Objective:
Identify optimum inexpensive compost plus byproducts which can be used in Biomat filters to protect surface water from excessive levels of Pb, Cu and other contaminants of interest from an APHIS facility, and the time before Biomat replacement will be needed. APHIS needs such a technology to comply with modern environmental standards.

Approach:
Surface runoff waters will be collected from both the Cu-Pb walls and parking lots to determine the capacity needed in a Biomat filter to attain adequate treatment to remove excessive contaminants. When the typical composition of the runoff waters has been assessed, Biomat compositions will be evaluated with representative runoff water to determine the percolation rate and surface area of a Biomat needed to adequately remove contaminants to meet surface discharge requirements. Biomats will be installed and monitoring continued to verify effectiveness in the field.