Constructed Ponds for the Treatment of Urban Stormwater - Biotic Processes Influencing the Removal of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Carbon Author Bayley, Mark Published 2007 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School Griffith School of Engineering DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/2832 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367630 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Constructed ponds for the treatment of urban stormwater – biotic processes influencing the removal of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon. Mark L. Bayley (BAppSc, Hons) November 2007 Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Engineering Griffith University Nathan, 4111 Queensland Australia Forward This thesis presents and discusses the research undertaken by the author between 2003 and 2006, with the majority of field and laboratory work undertaken in 2004 and 2005. Each chapter within this thesis is written as a series of complimentary, but stand alone chapters. The thesis can be structurally divided into three sections; 1. “Why and How” – three chapters that provide a general introduction into the subject topic, outlining the main aims of the investigation. The study site is introduced, along with standard methodologies to proceeding chapters. a. Chapter 1: Introduction b. Chapter 2: The study site c. Chapter 3: Standard methods to research chapters 2. “What” – eight research based chapters that address the aims presented in the introduction. a. Chapter 4: Hydraulic characteristics b. Chapter 5: Nutrient reduction during storm events c. Chapter 6: Factors governing water quality d. Chapter 7: Phytoplankton biomass and community composition e. Chapter 8: Pelagic and benthic carbon dynamics f. Chapter 9: Inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus cycling 3. “Conclusions” – two chapters that provide a general discussion and conclusion on the research undertaken, management guidelines and conceptual diagrams on the flux of nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus within the studied system. a. Chapter 10: Building a conceptual model b. Chapter 11: Design and management Each chapter within Section 2 is written following a standard scientific paper format, using Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion and Conclusion sub headings. All references are listed at the end of the thesis to minimise repetition and ease the reader’s task of reference searching. Chapters in Sections 1 and 3 follow a more ‘text book’ type format, presenting and discussing subjects and ideas in a sequential and logical manner. ii Table of Contents FORWARD............................................................................................................................. II ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... VII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................................X LIST OF FIGURES...............................................................................................................XI LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................................. XIV LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ACRONYMS........................................................................ XVI GLOSSARY.......................................................................................................................XVII 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 26 1.1 STORMWATER – THE NEED FOR TREATMENT ............................................................. 27 1.2 TREATING STORMWATER............................................................................................. 29 1.3 KNOWLEDGE GAPS ....................................................................................................... 31 1.3.1 AN LIMNOLOGICAL APPROACH TO STORMWATER TREATMENT POND AND WETLAND RESEARCH…............................................................................................................................ 33 1.4 PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................. 34 2 CHAPTER 2: THE STUDY SITE ................................................................................. 36 2.1 LOCATION OF STUDY SITE............................................................................................ 37 2.1.1 URBAN STORMWATER TREATMENT – A CASE STUDY WITHIN THE MORETON BAY CATCHMENT............................................................................................................................. 38 2.2 A SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE............................................................................................ 45 2.3 THE CATCHMENT ......................................................................................................... 46 3 CHAPTER 3: STANDARD METHODS TO RESEARCH CHAPTERS.................. 48 3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 49 3.2 WATER SAMPLE COLLECTION AND STORAGE............................................................. 49 3.3 WATER SAMPLE ANALYSIS........................................................................................... 50 3.3.1 NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS ANALYSIS..................................................................... 50 3.3.2 TOC AND DOC............................................................................................................ 52 3.4 PHYSICOCHEMICAL WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS ................................................. 53 3.5 CHLOROPHYLL A .......................................................................................................... 54 4 CHAPTER 4: HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUBTROPICAL URBAN CATCHMENT AND STORMWATER TREATMENT POND ....................................... 56 4.1 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 57 iii 4.2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 58 4.2.1 RESEARCH AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................ 61 4.3 METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 62 4.3.1 THE BWC CATCHMENT .............................................................................................. 62 4.3.2 THE BWC SYSTEM...................................................................................................... 62 4.3.3 DATA ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................... 65 4.4 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 68 4.4.1 THE BWC CATCHMENT .............................................................................................. 68 4.4.2 THE BWC SYSTEM...................................................................................................... 70 4.4.3 STORMWATER FLOW INTO THE BWC SYSTEM............................................................ 71 4.5 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 76 4.5.1 THE GENERATION OF STORMWATER ........................................................................... 76 4.5.2 STORMWATER STORAGE WITHIN AND FLOW OUT OF THE BWC SYSTEM ................... 79 4.6 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 81 5 CHAPTER 5: NUTRIENT REDUCTION DURING STORM EVENTS ................. 82 5.1 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 83 5.2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 84 5.2.1 RESEARCH AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................ 86 5.3 METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 87 5.3.1 FIELD COLLECTION...................................................................................................... 87 5.3.2 HYDROLOGY AND RAINFALL DATA............................................................................. 88 5.3.3 EVENT MEAN CONCENTRATION, LOADS AND TREATMENT PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 89 5.3.4 MONITORED STORM EVENTS ....................................................................................... 91 5.4 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 93 5.5 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................. 101 5.6 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 104 6 CHAPTER 6: ABIOTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING N, P & C DYNAMICS...... 105 6.1 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................