PERUNDING AZMAN, OOI & RAO SDN BHD

(Co. Reg. No. 570050 – H)

BIORENTATION
SYSTEM

IR AZMAN ABU BAKAR

 CONTENTS

5
 1
OVERVIEW

Performance
research
State-of-the-art in
bioretention design
Design tools
 1
OVERVIEW
What is Bioretention?
Filtering stormwater runoff through a terrestrial aerobic (upland) plant
/ soil / microbe complex to remove pollutants through a variety of
physical, chemical and biological processes.
The word “bioretention” was derived from the fact that the biomass of
the plant / microbe (flora and fauna) complex retains or uptakes many
of the pollutants of concern such as N, P and heavy metals.
It is the optimization and combination of bioretention, biodegradation,
physical and chemical that makes this system the most efficient of all
BMP’s
 1 OVERVIEW

The systems integrate vegetation, such as trees, shrubs and grasses, and layered media
using soil, sand and mulches
1 OVERVIEW
TYPICAL PLAN AND SECTION
 1 INTRODUCTION
SYSTEM COMPONENT

Provide water quality treatment by removing

The components of a bioretention fine sediment, trace metals, nutrients, bacteria
system consist of : and organics through a variety of pollutant
removal mechanisms, including:
 pre-treatment
 inlet  Filtration, extended detention treatment;
 Adsorption to soil particles, denitrification;
 an excavated basin area with plant
 Biological uptake by plants.
 underlying mulch layer
 soil bed
 sand bed and
 drainage
 outlet structure.

NOTE : REFER FIG. 9.1 & 9.2 (next slide)

1 INTRODUCTION
SYSTEM COMPONENT
 1
INTRODUCTION
Pollutant Removal Mechanisms
Physical / Chemical / Biological

Processes System Components

Sedimentation Mulch
Filtration Course Sand
Adsorption Pore Space
Absorption Surface Area
Cation Exchange Capacity Complex Organics
Polar / Non-polar Sorption Microbes
Microbial Action (aerobic / anaerobic) Biofilm
decomposition / nitrification / denitrification Plants
Plant Uptake “Ecological Structure”
Cycling Nutrients / Carbon / Metals
Biomass Retention (Microbes / Plant)
Evaporation / Volatilization
 1
INTRODUCTION
Infiltration System

2” Mulch

2’ Existing Ground

Highly Pervious Soils

 1
INTRODUCTION
Filtration System

2” Mulch

Existing Ground

2’

Drain Pipe

Highly Pervious Soils

 1
INTRODUCTION
Combination Filtration / Infiltration

2” Mulch

Existing Ground

2’
Sandy Organic Soil

Drain Pipe

Gravel
Moderately Pervious Soils
 1
INTRODUCTION
Plant-and-Microbe-Mediated Pollutant Removal
Phytoremediation
◦ Translocate
◦ Accumulate
◦ Metabolize
◦ Volatilize
◦ Detoxify
◦ Degrade
◦ Exudates

Bioremediation
Soils
◦ Capture / Immobilize Pollutants
 1
INTRODUCTION
Nitrogen Removal
Step 1: Nitrification
◦ Ammonia/urea → nitrate
◦ Aerobic process
◦ Nitrate is highly mobile, and tends to be exported

Step 2: Denitrification
◦ Nitrate → nitrogen gas
◦ Anaerobic process
◦ May occur in gravel storage layer beneath underdrain
1
INTRODUCTION
Phosphorus Removal

High p-index
soils export
phosphorus

Measured
by the p-
index of the
topsoil used
to mix BSM
Dependent on the
amount of
phosphorus present
in the BSM
 1
INTRODUCTION
Other Pollutants
Heavy metals
◦ Adsorb to clay and humus in BSM
◦ May be taken up by plants
Organics (oil and grease, pathogens, PAHs, etc)
◦ Filtered by mulch and BSM
◦ Digested by microbes
◦ Taken up by plants
TSS
◦ Filtered by mulch and BSM
◦ Bioturbation by earthworms may prevent clogging
1 INTRODUCTION
 1 INTRODUCTION
BIORETENTION AREA

 Composite of grass filter strip

and bioretention area (trees,
shrubs, grass,) designed for
evapotranspiration and
infiltration

 Useful for parking lot runoff BIOFILTRATION SWALE FOR HIGHWAY

 Economical for small sites (<

1 acre)

(SOURCES : CPSWQ)

BIOFILTRATION STRIP
 1 INTRODUCTION
BIORETENTION AREA

Vegetated Filter Strip Vegetated Filter Strip

Effectiveness
 Treats sheet flow only (not Pollutant removal for filter
concentrated flow) strips:
 Should have long 1. Suspended solids -
treatment length, if good
possible 2. Total phosphorus -
 Need spreader or means moderate
to distribute runoff evenly 3. Nitrate nitrogen -
 Moderate pollutant poor
removal capability, 4. Zinc - good
particularly for sediment 5. Lead - moderate
VEGETATED FILTER STRIP
and metals
 1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION

 small sites & ideally suited to many ultra urban areas

 use as off-line BMPs facilities located adjacent to parking lots,

along highway and road drainage swales, around buildings and
within landscaped islands in impervious or high-density
environments.

 stormwater hotspot areas where landuse activities generate

highly contaminated runoff, with concentrations of pollutants in
excess of those typically found in stormwater. A typical example is
a gas station or factory lot.
 1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION

A Bioretention A Bioretention
Bioretention Grass filter strips can be
system constructed system constructed
facility for used along the edge of
as a depressed as a depressed
driveway runoff impervious areas.
island in the middle island in the middle
of the access of the access
driveways. driveways.
1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION
 1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION

Off-line Bioretention System for use with Swales Bioretention System for use in Parking Lots
 1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION IN MALAYSIA

Physical Specification and Geometry

Layout Plan of Bioretention System at Humid Tropics

Centre Kuala Lumpur HTCKL
1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION IN MALAYSIA

Plan View of Bioretention at HTCKL

 1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION IN MALAYSIA

Present Outlook of Bioretention Basin at Humid Tropics Centre Kuala Lumpur (HTCKL)
1 INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION IN MALAYSIA

Hydraulic Conductivity Testing Points for

Bioretention Systemnat Humid Tropics
Centre Kuala Lumpur (HTCKL)
 1 INTRODUCTION
Pollutant Mass Removal
University of Maryland

Field experiments
Small events produced zero effluent, Pollutant Mass removal
so comparing inflow/outflow EMC TSS 57 %
underestimates removal TP 78 %
Mass removal is a better metric, but Cu 80 %
produces misleadingly low removal Pb 86 %
rates for pollutants occurring at low
concentrations (e.g. Cu, Pb, and Zn) Zn 62 %
NO3-N 93 %
 1 INTRODUCTION
Bioretention Pollutant Removal
University of Maryland
Box Experiments
Cumulative
Depth Phos-
(ft) Copper Lead Zinc phorus TKN Ammonia Nitrate
Removal Efficiency (%)
1 90 93 87 0 37 54 -97
2 93 99 98 73 60 86 -194
3 93 99 99 81 68 79 23

Field 97 96 95 65 52 92 16

Dr. Allen Davis, University of Maryland

2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL – SITING

 Closeness of placement of the facilities to the source of runoff

generation, such as areas upstream from outfalls that receive sheet
flow from graded areas.

 Site with land surface that permits the dispersion of flows relatively
uniform.

 Space availability for easy installation considering setback

requirements on residential subdivision lots and commercial lots.

 The systems should not be located near building areas (unless the
design incorporates adequate waterproofing measures and are
approved by a geotechnical engineer), well heads, and septic
systems.
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL – SITING

 Min setback distances from structures and property boundaries

(Table 9.2).

 Needs of stormwater management retrofit and redevelopment

opportunities especially in areas where total stormwater
management control is not feasible.

 The sites to be excavated or cut is suitable for the bioretention

system construction.

 Existing wooded areas or other significant natural features

should be avoided if possible.
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL – SITTING
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL - DRAINAGE AREA

TREAT LARGER AREAS :

commercial or
INDIVIDUAL : residential drainage
Small cathment : < 1.0 ha areas, exceeding 0.5-1.0
impervious area ha in size, will discharge
flows greater than the 5
year ARI storm event

However, by employing
drainage runoff dispersion
techniques and retaining flows greater than the 5-
existing contours, year ARI storm event
concentrated quantities of will require
flow can be reduced below channel/pipe enclosure
these thresholds, across developed lots.
eliminating or reducing the
need for a channel/pipe
conveyance system
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL - SLOPE

Best located on relatively small slopes (usually

less than 5%).

Sufficient grade - ensure that the runoff that

enters a bioretention system can be connected to
the storm drain system.

most often located adjacent to parking lots or

residential landscaped areas - generally have
gentle slopes.
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL - IN-SITU SOILS

1. impermeable system :
 clayey and poorly drained soils

2. permeable systems :
 sandy and well drained
 saturated hydraulic conductivities of higher than 13mm/hr.
 lower saturated hydraulic conductivity of less than 13mm/hr
Results into prohibitively large bioretention area.
more susceptible to clogging & require enhanced pretreatment.
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
A. GENERAL - GROUNDWATER
Bioretention systems should be located above the groundwater table
 to ensure that groundwater never intersects with the bottom of the
bioretention system
 prevents possible groundwater contamination and system failure.

The minimum vertical distance between seasonal high water table and
bottom of bioretention system should be 0.6m.

GWT : 0.6 m
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – PRETRETAMENT

i. Pretreatment devices : grass buffer strip or vegetated swales

ii. Runoff enters the bioretention area as sheet flow after passing
through grass buffer strips with reduced velocity and less
particulate.

Swales grass buffer strip

2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – INLET CONTROL

FLOW ENTER
SYSTEM :
SUBSERFACE PIPE,
OPEN
CHANNEL/SWALE

LEVEL SPREADER MAY BE LOCATED

SCOUR PROTECTION : LIGHT
TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE THE
RIPRAP WITH 6 TO 12MM D50
INCOMING RUNOFF ONTO THE
(REDUCE V & AVOID
BASIN SURFACE/CELLS FOR
PROTECTION)
EFFECTIVE PERCOLATION

V ELOCITY
AROUND INLET <
0.5 M/S
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – BASIN / PONDING AREA

1. Provides surface storage of stormwater runoff before it filters through the soil
bed
2. Depth : 150-300mm
3. Freeboard depth : maximum 150mm (allow surcharge > 3 mth yr ARI)
4. Drain within 24 hours

WHY i. The need to optimise the cost of the bioretention system as a

24 shorter drain time of ponding area will lead to a bigger system.
HOUR ii. The pollutant removal based on 40mm of design storm is
considered adequate for water quality ontrol objective.
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – MULCH LAYER

protects the soil bed from erosion

DEPTH : 50-100
mm retains moisture in the plant root zone

provides a medium for biological growth

and decomposition of organic matter
fine shredded
hardwood mulch /
shredded
hardwood chips. Provides some filtration of pollutants mainly
larger sediment particles
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – PLANTING SOIL BED

1 2 3
Function Depth Layer
provides water 450 mm to 1000 sandy loam,
and nutrients to mm. loamy sand, or
support plant loam texture
life with clay
content ranging
from 10 to 25%.
Hydraulic Permeable
4 conductivity, k 5 substrata 6 Organic matter
Natural soil 25 % porosity 15 %
profile of silt
loam : 13
mm/hr
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – PLANTING SOIL BED

Max hydraulic
7 8 9
Clay PH conductivity
≤ 25 % 5.5 – 6.5 Not higher than
200 mm/hr

NOTE : design Infiltration rate (fd) = ½ infiltration rate soil texture analysis
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – SAND BED IN PERMEABLE SYSTEM

Underlying native soil has sufficient infiltration capacity to

drain the water from the planting soil bed
Sand bed also provides additional filtration and allows for
aeration of the planting soil bed.

Thickness : 200-300mm

clean & less than 15% silt or clay content.

2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – DRAINAGE LAYER IN A
IMPERMEABLE SYSTEM

used to convey treated flows into the subsoil/underdrain pipes.

constructed using coarse sand or fine gravel

(2mm to 5mm particle size)

The layer should surround

the subsoil pipe and is
typically 200-400mm thick
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – TRANSITION LAYER

Granular :
100-150 mm
thick / suitable
geotextile
fabric
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – PLANTS & LANDSCAPING

Function – remove pollutants & nutrients

through uptake

Designed to replicate a forested ecosystem

and to survive stresses such as frequent
periods of inundation during runoff events
and drying during inter-event periods.

Use native plant species / plants harmonies

(refer ANNEX 1)
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – OUTLET CONTROLS

PRIMARY SECONDARY

Design = 3 mth ARI Design = > 3 mth ARI

perforated pipe provided in the

drainage layer and will be the flow diversion structure or
conveyed to the road reserve overflow weir to bypass
and/or by connection to an major storm discharge where
underground drainage system applicable.
2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
B. SYSTEM DESIGN – MAINTENANCE

incorporate features to
reduce the long term
maintenance

need regular maintenance

and eventual rehabilitation
as it degrades over a number
of years (Annex 2).
3
SIZING PROCEDURE
CONSIDERATION

i. Purposes and function of the bioretention system;

ii. Site requirements for water quality controls;

iii. Design storm that is required to meet the stormwater

management criteria;

iv. Capabilities of the bioretention system to be used for

water quality controls; and

v. Use of bioretention system independently of other

BMP's, or to be installed along with other devices
within a treatment train.
3
SIZING PROCEDURE
A. FILTER BED AREA

Temporarily hold the

Water Quality Volume
(WQv) derived as
runoff from 40mm
(i.e., 3 month ARI)
design rainfall, prior to
infiltration
3 SIZING PROCEDURE
A. FILTER BED AREA
 3 SIZING PROCEDURE
A. FILTER BED AREA

Filter bed area (Af) is computed based on the Darcy’s Law.

For those practices that are designed For those systems that are designed
with an under drain without an under drain
(impermeable system) (permeable system)
3
SIZING PROCEDURE
B. MAXIMUM INFILTRATION RATE

In the case of impermeable bioretention system, the maximum

infiltration rate through the filtration media must be considered to
allow for the subsoil drain to be sized.
3
SIZING PROCEDURE
B. MAXIMUM INFILTRATION RATE

The capacity of the subsoil

drain, when installed,
must exceed the maximum
infiltration rate to ensure
free draining conditions for
the filter media (Figure 9.6).
 3
SIZING PROCEDURE
C. SUBSOIL/UNDERDRAIN PIPES

Flow per perforation :

i. Perforated pipes placed

at the base of
impermeable
bioretention systems to
collect treated water for
conveyance
downstream

ii. 150mm in diameter For circular perforated pipes flowing full, using Manning
Equation the flow in pipe (Qpipe) :
iii. maximum infiltration
rate > capacity of the
pipe => multiple pipes
 3
SIZING PROCEDURE
D. OUTLET STRUCTURE

To size a grated overflow

pit, two checks should be
made for either drowned
or free flowing weir flow
conditions: equation
for free overfall
i. The broad crested conditions
weir equation to
determine the
length of weir
orifice flow
required (assuming
equation for
free conditions);
drowned outlet
conditions
ii. The orifice equation
to estimate the area
of opening required
(assuming drowned
outlet conditions).
 3
SIZING PROCEDURE
D. OUTLET STRUCTURE

To size a grated overflow

pit, two checks should be
made for either drowned
or free flowing weir flow
conditions: equation
for free overfall
i. The broad crested conditions
weir equation to
determine the
length of weir
orifice flow
required (assuming
equation for
free conditions);
drowned outlet
conditions
ii. The orifice equation
to estimate the area
of opening required
(assuming drowned
outlet conditions).
 3
SIZING PROCEDURE
E. SCOUR VELOCITY

SCOUR VELOCITY, V =
V during minor storms V during major storms
(2 – 10 year ARI) (50 – 100 year ARI)
Q minor or Q minor
< 0.5 m/s < 1.5 m/s
cross section area

If the inlet to the

bioretention basin
controls the maximum
To avoid scouring of the filter media inflow to the basin :
and vegetation.
v < 0.5 m/s
 3
SIZING PROCEDURE
F. INLET STRUCTURE

hydraulic diameter, DH

hydraulic diameter, DH
(Trapezoid channel)
 4 DESIGN STEP

Step 1 : site evaluation Step 6 : determine site

infiltration rate (saturated
hydraulic conductivity)
Step 2 : field verification of
site suitability
Step 7 : determine the size of
biorentation area
Step 3 : estimation design
flow Step 8 : sizing of perforated
pipe

Step 4 : inlet structure Step 9 : Determine the Size

of Outlet Structure
Step 5 : select biorentation
type Step 10: Landscaping Design
5 DESIGN EXAMPLE

APPENDIX 9.A
EXAMPLE -
IMPERMEABLE
BIORETENTION
SYSTEM