Newest website on P removal structures

 I now post the most updated information on P removal structures on a new website with the USDA-ARS. https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/west-lafayette-in/national-soil-erosion-research/docs/phosphorus-removal-structures/

Here, you will find the new FREE software, P-Trap, and a series of training videos on how to design and construct P removal structures.  Please contact me with any questions. chad.penn@usda.gov

Fact sheet, upcoming manuscript, and update on book publication.

Just an update:

Here is a new fact sheet for the P removal structures, located here.

Also, it seems the book publication date has been set back, although I expect the electronic version to be available soon.  Last week I worked through the galley proofs.  The book can be directly purchased from Springer, here.

We have also completed a manuscript that reviews and compiles the performance of many different P removal structures (pilot and field scale) from around the world, with the help of several people (A. Klimeski, G. Lyngsie, and I. Chagas).  This is being submitted to "Water", in a special issue about stormwater treatment (if it is accepted).

Take care,
CPenn

Release date for book and Phrog availability

The forthcoming book, "Design and construction of phosphorus removal structures for improving water quality" is set to be published by Springer on July 4rth, 2017.

You can currently pre-order the book here at the links, from Springer and Amazon 

Also, Phrog software is now available for non-profit agencies and government agencies for free from Oklahoma State University (www.phrog.okstate.edu) after obtaining a free license from them.  Private companies who wish to commercialize construction of P removal structures must pay for a license for the software.

Need pictures of P removal structures for a book!

For those of you who have constructed a P removal structure, I have a favor to ask:  can yous send me pictures?  One of the chapters in the book is dedicated to providing different examples and applications of P removal structures.  I already have a diverse set of examples to include, but the more, the merrier.

If you would be willing to provide a picture to be published in the book, please send it to me at chad.penn@ars.usda.gov  and include a caption and indicate who the picture should be credited to.

Thanks!

Book to be released: Construction and design of P removal structures

A book entitled, "Construction and design of phosphorus removal structures for improving water quality", by C.J. Penn and J. Bowen, will be released sometime in the spring of 2017.   The book will be published by Springer, and is due to them in January of 2017.

Purpose: The purpose of this book is to introduce the P removal structure as a new BMP for reducing dissolved P loading to surface waters from non-point source pollution, provide guidance on designing site-specific P removal structures, and provide instruction on use of the design software, “Phrog” (Phosphorus Removal Online Guidance: www.phrog.okstate.edu).  The book initially provides a review of the nature and sources of non-point source P pollution, examines short and long term solutions to the problem, and provides detailed theory on design and operation of the P removal structure.  As with many areas of study, one of the best methods of communicating concepts is through illustrations and examples.  This book is no exception; several years of experience in studying P sorption and constructing P removal structures at multiple scales and settings is utilized for providing real examples and applications.  With an understanding of the P removal structure established, the reader is instructed on how to obtain all of the necessary inputs for properly designing a site-specific P removal structure for meeting a desired lifetime and performance, or predict the performance and lifetime of a previously constructed P removal structure.   For the readers who possess the Phrog design software or are interested in obtaining it, one chapter is dedicated to detailed use of the software as demonstrated with various examples of structure design and also prediction. 

Audience: Practitioners and policy makers in environmental quality, agriculture, and water quality with regard to reducing non-point source P pollution to surface waters.  This encompasses government agencies such as the USDA, NRCS, and EPA, state and local agencies such as Department of Agriculture, Department of environmental quality, and municipalities, non-profit organizations dedicated to water quality and agriculture, the environmental engineering and consulting industry, and golf course superintendents. 

Field day presentation and PhROG software demonstration: May 29th

There will be a demonstration of the PhROG design software, concurrent with a field day presentation of a P removal structure that is currently being constructed at the Watershed Learning Center, on May 29th.  Please see the flier below for information.  If interested in attending, please RSVP using the contact information provided.

Software Release: PhROG

The design software for P removal structures has been completed, and is available for licensing from Oklahoma State University.  PhROG: "Phosphorus Removal Online Guidance".

This software can serve two purposes:

1. Design a site-specific P removal structure using any suitable PSM, in order to meet the desired dissolve P load removal goal and  lifetime
2. Estimate the P removal and lifetime of a previously constructed P removal structure.

Again, the structure can be built in a variety of settings, as long as the following principles are maintained:

1. Contains sufficient mass of solid media with high affinity for P, commonly known as a “P sorption material”, or PSM.  A PSM is not simply a typical gravel material, although it may be the same particle size as gravel, since the material must have a strong capacity to adsorb P.  PSMs are usually industrial by-products or manufactured.  However, there are some PSMs that occur naturally.
2. PSM is contained and placed in a hydrologically active area with high dissolved P concentrations. 
3. High dissolved P water is able to flow through the contained PSM at a suitable rate.
4. The PSM is able to be removed and replaced after it is no longer effective.

The most suitable placement for a P removal structure includes drainage ditches, tile drain outlets, and areas where surface flow naturally converges.  For each site, the following information must be obtained in order to make a proper design:

1. Average annual dissolved P load, which can be calculated from average annual flow volume and typical flow-weighted concentration
2. Peak flow rates desired for the structure to be able to handle
3. Chemical and physical characteristics of the PSM to be used
4. Available area
5. Hydraulic head, which is a result of both the landscape slope and the depth of the ditch
6. Desired P cumulative P removal goal and lifetime

 Three examples of different settings for a P removal structure are diagrammed below.

P removal structure designed to treat all ditch-flow:

An in-field subsurface P removal structure designed to treat a tile drain:

An in-ditch P removal structure that only treats the tile drain outlet:

Example Design Using PhROG Software

Conditions: Ditch drainage system with average annual flow of 2.35 million gallons and flow-weighted dissolved P concentration of 0.25 mg/L.  Also total P concentrations of 2 mg/L and sediment of 4 mg/L.  Assume certain ditch dimensions as shown below.  PSM is a flue-gas gypsum.  Desired removal goal of 35% cumulative, over 3 years.

The output below provides all the information necessary to construct the ditch structure and meet the desired goals, include flow rate, in addition to not exceeding the current ditch flow capacity more than 20%

1. Mass and detph of flue-gas gypsum required
2. Length of structure
3. Number of subsurface drainage pipes needed (pipe diameter specified by user, in this case, 4 inches).
4. Actual retention time and flow rate
5. % decrease in ditch flow capacity as a result of the structure
6. A table of output, year by year, for dissolved and total P removal presented as both a % and a mass.

Here is another example design, except in this case we will design a "bed" structure for a below-ground tile treatment.  

Conditions:  Flow weighted P concentration of dissolved P = 1 mg/L, Annual flow volume of 1.4 million gallons and peak flow rate of 468 gpm.  Hydraulic head of 24 inches and maximum area of 20 x 20 ft.  PSM is a treated steel slag material and removal goal is 35% over 3 years.  See input below:

The output below specifies the requirements for the target goals to be met for this subsurface bed structure, using the specified material:

1. Required treated slag mass of 38.4 tons at 24 inches deep
2. Bed is 20 x 17.4 ft 
3. 7 subsurface drainage pipes at a diameter specified by user (in this case, 4 inches)
4. Actual flow rate through the material is 517 gpm.
5. Material is not sensitive to retention time (RT)
6. A table of yearly performance for the hypothetical structure.  

Please contact Chad Penn at Oklahoma State University if you are interested in obtaining a license for the software.