Join the Wells Reserve Coastal Training Program for our annual tour of the UNH Stormwater Center!

Workshop Overview

The UNH Stormwater Center research addresses the concerns that while many conventional stormwater treatments effectively reduce peak flows, they commonly do not improve many water quality constituents (sediment, nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons, and/or microorganisms). Many stormwater plans and actions involve some structural measure to remedy the environmental impact of stormwater. Numerous institutions and vendors have developed designs to achieve desirable water quality and storm volume reduction. Although many of these devices are invented or developed on a sound theoretical foundation, few undergo the rigors of independent scientific testing.

In August of 2004, the Center's field research facility came online. This field research facility serves as both a site for testing stormwater treatment processes as well as for technology demonstrations. The testing results and technology demonstrations are meant to assist in the planning, design, and implementation of stormwater management strategies.

The research facility houses three categories of stormwater treatment processes: conventional structural devices, Low Impact Development (LID) designs, and manufactured devices. Specifically there are 13 technologies: manufactured devices (infiltration device, filtration device, manhole retrofits, etc), a sand filter, a bioretention system, a gravel wetland, porous asphalt, a tree filter, a detention pond, and a swale. In addition to this main field facility, the Center researchers will be studying measures to treat and/or minimize stormwater at the source, for example street vacuuming and snow dumps.

When you first visit the research facility, it is remarkable to note how the footprint of the different treatment processes varies, even though all are sized to treat the same water volume and the same peak flow. This reflects the unique applications of the various devices. Not all devices perform the same with respect to removing contaminants and reducing peak flow. Some devices are more appropriate for urban environments in which limited space exists for treatment, while other devices may be more appropriate for situations in which more land is available.

The Center's program is a collaborative effort with participation from federal, state, and municipal agencies along with industry and academia. The Center is funded through CICEET whose mission is to supports the scientific development of innovative technologies for understanding and reversing the impacts of coastal and estuarine contamination and degradation.

Workshop Schedule