Science Museum of Virginia ONE/PES

Richmond, Virginia

Nitrogen and Phosphorous Elimination

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Owner: Science Museum of Virginia

Engineer: Sustainable Water Investment Group, LLC

Installation: September, 2019

Technical Description:

  • ABS Media

  • ONE Media

  • ONE Control System

Combining the unparalleled phosphorus (P) removal of the Advanced Bioretention System (ABS) with the enhanced nitrogen (N) removal of Organic N Elimination (ONE), the ABS-ONE provides exceptional N and P removal in one system within an extremely small footprint. Supported by a $150,000 grant from the USFWS, the ABS-ONE is being installed at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond VA. At only 1,000 sq. ft., this facility will treat 1.3 acres of parking lot runoff.

In addition to using the ABS media formulated for P removal, the media also includes amendments to enhance organic N transformation essential to fully remove N from runoff. The resultant nitrate N is then removed by a denitrifying bioreactor. Its innovative patented outlet partitions flows so that most N is retained for complete removal, while all P is removed from all events. An innovative pretreatment system is included to minimize the very high sediment loads that such a small facility would receive. Most of the treated runoff is then infiltrated under the facility.

This first of its kind system will be monitored at four points along the treatment train to evaluate how well each component performs under a variety of natural and enhanced loads. The resultant sampling will be systematically conducted and reviewed by scientists from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In addition to N and P, the removal of sediments, organic compounds, metals and pathogens will be evaluated.