Stormwater Quality Treatment-Rural Road Design

[Ryb01]

Our company has ben involved in several rural road reconsruction projects in the past few years.

A topic that seems to keep resurfacing time and time again is stromwater quality treatment, more specifically, salt removal efficiency. We've started using different type's of LID treatment (where feasible and where permitted) including infiltration trenches, filter strips,"bio-swales", etc. However I haven't come across much information with regards to road salt removal rates, efficiency and longevity of "road side" treatment options.

Does anyone have experience in this area? and could you direct me to some resources that may be useful? Thank you in advance.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

How can you remove something soluble? I think the best you'll be able to do is dilute or divert it before it reaches sensitive areas.

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

 

[Ryb01]

That's along the same lines as I was thinking. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

Assuming the salt is from snow and ice control, your best bet might to be calibrate your client's spreaders, and have them adjust their salt spreading rate according to weather conditions - use less if it is just below freezing or for small storms, for example.

If they are municipal clients, they can contact their state's LTAP or T2 center for assistance. I know that the NY LTAP center, the Cornell Local Roads Program, offers training on the subject.

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

 

[Ryb01]

Thank you ACtrafficengr for your response.

Yes the salt is for snow and ice removal. Controlling the quantity of salt used has come up in conversations and unfortuneatly has fell on deaf ears. The challenge that we've been issued with is redicing salt impacts from a stormwater design perspective. Criteria that is out of reach perhaps??

I've done quite a bit of research with roadway salt BMP's, alternative de-icers, calibration techniques, etc......but haven't really come up with anything that ultimately removes and or reduces the salt content from either groundwater and/or surface water from a practical engineering stand point.

My thoughts....Use less salt....or an alternative "green" solution to de-ice the roads. Again, I'm open to suggestions.....