STORMWATER

Boston University Stormwater Remediation

Background
Fuel oil from underground tanks at Boston University leaked into storm drain pipes and flowed into the Charles River Basin in 1992 and 1996, violating the federal Clean Water Act. The US Justice Department then filed a consent order against the University for environmental violations.

In connection with the settlement of the consent action, CRWA worked with the university, EPA New England and the U.S. Attorney to find ways to use environmental fines to remediate polluted stormwater discharges into the Charles River. The Stormwater Remediation Study was undertaken by Boston University as part of this effort.

Goals & Objectives
In 1997, Boston University and CRWA embarked on the stormwater remediation study to determine the effectiveness of structural control measures, or Best Management Practices (BMPs), in removing pollutants from stormwater runoff before it discharges to the Charles River. To assist regulators and practitioners better in understanding the effectiveness of BMPs at removing stormwater pollutants and improving the water quality of the Charles River, Boston University contracted with CRWA to design, implement, and test several BMPs on its Charles River campus. This study provided important information about the effectiveness of various stormwater remediation and management techniques.

CRWA analyzed numerous potential sites for stormwater remediation and worked with Boston University and their engineering consultant team to design and construct different types of stormwater technologies (so-called Best Management Practices or BMPs) at the four most appropriate locations. CRWA collected and analyzed stormwater runoff from paved surfaces at the four sites on the BU campus to test the effectiveness of the BMPs at removing pollutants from runoff.

Outcomes
In 2003, a Final Project Report was issued, outlining the design and results of the program. Overall, the most effective BMP tested was also the least expensive and simplest: a berm to collect runoff and a grassy area to filter and recharge runoff prior to discharge to the drainage system. Generally, all of the BMPs performed best when newly installed. Better maintenance and operations were recommended to improve the effectiveness of all of the BMPs.

Similar analytical work is now being done in a larger and more controlled setting at the University of New Hampshire's Stormwater Center in Durham, NH.