By Shelby Ruud
Researchers
at Utah State University are finishing a proposal to the Environmental Protection
Agency and the city of Logan that will allow the study of bioswales, which are
landscape elements designed to remove pollutants from stormwater using
vegetation.
There
is currently one bioswale in Logan. If approved, the researchers will study the
effectiveness of the bioswale this summer and submit their findings in the
fall. If the research confirms the benefits of bioswales, more could be
implemented in Logan within the next few years.
“Bioswales
are an alternate to the cement storm drains we have now,” said Ryan Dupont, a
professor of civil and environmental engineering at USU. “Bioswales are a
low-cost, passive way to get rid of pollutants in stormwater.”
According
to Dupont, stormwater from urban areas carries various harmful pollutants to
rivers and lakes. These pollutants include heavy metals and hazardous organics
from roadways, parking lots and asphalt rooftops.
“We’re
seeing a big impact on the water quality in our rivers, so there’s pressure to
make things different,” Dupont said.
Bioswales
can also help with the lack of snowfall experienced this year, according to
Dupont.
“There’s
not much snowpack, and that could mean serious trouble for irrigation and city
water needs,” he said. “Bioswales allow us to build up groundwater supply because
we can capture the water and store it below the city.”
Bioswales
are also visually-pleasing, according to Hailey Wall, a student in the
Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at USU.
“Since
the bioswales incorporate plants, they look better compared to the usual cement
storm drains,” she said. “They are improving the aesthetics of our city.”
Dupont
said the EPA has already confirmed that they will approve the proposal and
recommend the plan for funding from the city.