Managing E. Coli Growth in Stormwater Catch Casins
Location
CSU 253/4/5
Start Date
5-4-2010 10:00 AM
End Date
5-4-2010 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Stephen Druschel
Mentor's Department
Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
This research project concerns the management of Escherichia coli growth in stormwater catch basins. Stormwater E.coli is an indication of fecal contamination since E. coli lives in lower intestine of mammals. Stormwater runoff that passes through storm drainage systems typically will be treated for sediment but not treated for bio organisms. Since the majority of stormwater will outfall to surface water, the presence of E. coli in stormwater has significant risk to human health if people contact the water, possibly through recreation. The intent of this project is to aid government agency with economical and easy solution to control the population of E.coli in surface water. High and low dosing of biomaterial is being explored seeing as leaves and grass clippings frequently enter the drainage system. This is being done by adding high and low doses of compost material; used as an organic source. The use of a dilute bleach solution sprayed in catch basins substantially lowers the population of E.coli. Scale model concrete catch basins were created and filled with samples of stormwater taken from a manhole in the City of Mankato. The Most Probably Number (MPN) method was used for assessing the population magnitude and absence or presence of E.coli. Samples were taken from the catch basins both prior to and after bleach treatment to compare the effectiveness of the potential treatment method.
Managing E. Coli Growth in Stormwater Catch Casins
CSU 253/4/5
This research project concerns the management of Escherichia coli growth in stormwater catch basins. Stormwater E.coli is an indication of fecal contamination since E. coli lives in lower intestine of mammals. Stormwater runoff that passes through storm drainage systems typically will be treated for sediment but not treated for bio organisms. Since the majority of stormwater will outfall to surface water, the presence of E. coli in stormwater has significant risk to human health if people contact the water, possibly through recreation. The intent of this project is to aid government agency with economical and easy solution to control the population of E.coli in surface water. High and low dosing of biomaterial is being explored seeing as leaves and grass clippings frequently enter the drainage system. This is being done by adding high and low doses of compost material; used as an organic source. The use of a dilute bleach solution sprayed in catch basins substantially lowers the population of E.coli. Scale model concrete catch basins were created and filled with samples of stormwater taken from a manhole in the City of Mankato. The Most Probably Number (MPN) method was used for assessing the population magnitude and absence or presence of E.coli. Samples were taken from the catch basins both prior to and after bleach treatment to compare the effectiveness of the potential treatment method.
Recommended Citation
Hanninen, Eric; Chandani Malla; Spencer Cossalter; Ashraf Sarameh; and Meghann Chiodo. "Managing E. Coli Growth in Stormwater Catch Casins." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 5, 2010.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2010/poster-session-A/28
