Vegetated systems for non-point source pollution control

Nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water quality problems in the United States, and its reduction is a major challenge facing society today. Since the approval of the Clean Water Act of 1972, the United States has made great advances in reducing point source pollution from industrial and municipal wastewater systems. Unfortunately, not enough has been done to control nonpoint source or diffuse pollution, resulting in approximately 40% of rivers, lakes, and estuaries being unfit for fishing and swimming. As of 1998 over 290000 miles of river, almost 7900000 acres of lake and 12500 square miles of estuaries failed to meet water quality standards. The integration of biological technologies used by ecologists and agronomists with traditional engineered pollution control and remediation technologies appears to offer a cost effective, timely, and aesthetically pleasing solution for nonpoint source pollution. In recent years, it has become evident that the establishment and presence of vegetation can mitigate nonpoint source pollution and enhance the remediation of contaminated soils and water. Kansas State University is currently conducting numerous field, mesocosm (column) and laboratory studies to assess the effectiveness of vegetated systems for NPS pollution control in several settings, from agricultural fields to military training lands and urban centers. Preliminary results indicate that vegetated bioretention cells ( urban NPS pollution management practice) can have a significant impact on urban stormwater quality and riparian buffer strips reduce sediment and nutrient transport into streams in both rural and urban areas. Vegetation selection based on climate and required function in addition to the site physical characteristics are the primary factors effecting system effectiveness.