University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2018 Evaluating Hydrologic Fluxes Through Stormwater Treatment Systems: Implication to Freshwater Springs in a Karst Environment Nyle Rice University of Central Florida Part of the Environmental Engineering Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Rice, Nyle, "Evaluating Hydrologic Fluxes Through Stormwater Treatment Systems: Implication to Freshwater Springs in a Karst Environment" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 5996. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/5996 EVALUATING HYDROLOGIC FLUXES THOUGH STORMWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS: IMPLICATION TO FRESHWATER SPRINGS IN A KARST ENVIRONMENT by NYLE J. RICE B.S. University of Central Florida, 2016 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Summer Term 2018 Major Professor: Kelly Kibler ABSTRACT In recent years, concentrations of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus have increased in surface and groundwater resources, due in part to non-point source pollution associated with stormwater runoff. The elevated nutrient concentrations found in stormwater runoff have prompted the design of best management practices (BMP’s) to mitigate the problem. The overall objective within this thesis is to analyze the performance of innovative surface BMPs and investigate connections between the BMPs and groundwater flows to freshwater springs within a karst environment. The performance of two stormwater BMPs, blanket filters and vertical reactors containing Bio-sorption Activated Media (BAM), are assessed in terms of hydraulic retention time. Capture efficiency is also evaluated for the blanket filters. Blanket filters captured, at minimum 68% of the stormwater runoff entering a stormwater basin in one year. Water content monitoring indicates that BAM is affected by the surrounding water table. The vertical reactors are more appropriate technologies for small contributing areas. Tracking a conservative tracer from an injection point within a stormwater basin to nearby Silver Springs reveals several unique flowpaths and velocities of groundwater. Subsurface velocities observed in the basin ranged from 0.1 m/d to 1.4 m/d, while velocities from the injection well to the spring vary from 2.3 m/d to 13.5 m/d. The fastest travel times observed in the spring may represent flowpaths that include macropore/conduit flow through karst features, while the slower peaks may be more representative of matrix flow. Interaction with karst features may reduce retention time of stormwater in aquifers, altering expected nutrient transformations. Understanding the variable pathways stormwater may take from the surface to spring discharge may assist environmental managers in preserving water quality in springs and other waterbodies in karst systems. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing this thesis, over a period of two years, has been a time of intensive learning for me, both scientifically and personally. I have experienced growth and accomplishments that I never thought I would achieve and would like to reflect on the people who have supported and helped me thus far. I would first like to thank the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for providing funding to this research. I would then like to thank my thesis advisor and committee chair, Dr. Kelly Kibler of the Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering Department at the University of Central Florida. She provided me with a tremendous amount of guidance. Her door was always open for me whenever I had any questions, comments, or concerns with my research. She allowed this paper to be my own work and guided me in the right direction whenever needed. I would also like to thank other experts and students that were heavily involved in helping me present my research in a professional manner: Dr. Ni-Bin Chang, Dr. Martin Wanielista, Dr. Dingbao Wang, Dan Wen, Yuan Gao, and Mohammad Shokri. Without their passion, expertise, and input this research could not have been successfully completed. Finally, I would like to express deepest gratitude to my parents for providing me with the support and encouragement throughout my two years of coursework, the process of conducting research, and composing this thesis. When times were hard they provided me with the love and support I needed. They are truly my ultimate role models. This accomplishment would have not been possible without them. Thank you! iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................... 1 1.1 Problem Statement and Literature Review ..................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Stormwater Runoff...................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Use of Biosorption Activated Media in Stormwater BMPs ........................................ 6 1.1.3 Karst Hydrogeology .................................................................................................... 9 1.1.4 Tracer Tests in Karst Environments ......................................................................... 15 1.2 Thesis outline ................................................................................................................ 23 CHAPTER 2: FLOW PATHS AND TRAVEL TIMES OF SHALLOW GROUNDWATER IN A KARST ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................... 24 2.1 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 25 2.3 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 27 2.3.1 Study Area ................................................................................................................ 27 2.3.2 Field Methodology .................................................................................................... 29 2.4 Results ........................................................................................................................... 33 2.5 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 40 2.5.1 Proposed Conceptual Model ..................................................................................... 43 2.5.2 Implications for Management ................................................................................... 46 2.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER 3: HYDRAULIC INSTRUMENTATION OF BLANKET FILTERS AND VERTICAL REACTORS AND THE ASSESSMENT OF THE CUMULATIVE CAPTURE EFFICIENCY ............................................................................................................................... 49 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 49 3.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 50 3.2.1 Construction of Blanket Filters ................................................................................. 50 3.2.2 Construction of Vertical Reactors ............................................................................. 53 3.2.3 Hydraulic Instrumentation ........................................................................................ 56 3.2.4 Capture Efficiency .................................................................................................... 59 3.3 Results ........................................................................................................................... 65 3.3.1 Theoretical Maximum Capture Volume ................................................................... 65 3.3.2 Basin 9B West Blanket Filter ................................................................................... 65 3.3.3 Basin 9B East Blanket Filter ..................................................................................... 68 3.3.4 Basin 2 Vertical Reactor ........................................................................................... 69 iv 3.4 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 70 3.4.1 Hydrologic Performance of Blanket Filters .............................................................