Stormwater Quality

Iron-enhanced sand filters are being installed throughout Minnesota to trap phosphate from stormwater. Most are constructed like a sandbox, but instead of all quartz sand, these have 5-8% cast iron grains. One of their benefits is that they can be added to existing stormwater ponds as a retrofit. Unfortunately not all of the systems are considered successful.

 

We are using rock magnetic methods, microscopy, and monitoring of chemical parameters to understand how iron-enhanced sand filters chemically fluctuate on daily cycles and in response to storm events. We are currently finalizing results from this work and will update the site when they are ready for public consumption. 

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Awarded grant: Determining which iron minerals in iron-enhanced sand filters remove phosphorous from stormwater runoff, Minnesota Stormwater Research Council, $40,000

 

Awarded funding: Shingle Creek Watershed iron enhanced sand filter characterization, Wenck Associates, $39,000