Removal of Dissolved Pollutants from Highway Stormwater with Low-cost Adsorbents

Abstract

Rainfall and snowmelt generate large quantities of storm water from urban surfaces and highways. This stormwater contains pollutants such as suspended particles, heavy metals, organic chemicals and even pathogenic bacteria. The pollutants in highway runoff are often persistent and may contaminate fresh water resources and bio-accumulate in aquatic organisms. Therefore, polluted stormwater has been identified as one of the serious threats to aquatic ecosystems, and low cost onsite-treatment is seen as a prerequisite to achieve water quality goals set by EU water framework directive. The main objective of this master project is to select and evaluate the best low cost adsorbent materials for treatment of highway runoff. This research will support the Norwegian highway authority and municipalities in their efforts to achieve water quality standards set by water framework directive.