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The Conasauga River is a headwater stream of the Coosa River basin, originating in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia. Pollution reduction in the Conasauga River is a high priority for Georgia and EPA due to the remaining biological diversity of the river. Home to 76 native fish species, more than the Colorado and Columbia rivers combined, the Conasauga serves residential, agricultural, and carpet industry needs. Segments of the river are impaired due to sediment, nutrients, and fecal coliform bacteria from septic systems, agriculture, and stormwater runoff. As stormwater regulations go into effect for Phase II communities, many agencies are asking for field performance data. As part of a Clean Water Act section 319 demonstration watershed project, two objectives were sought: (1) demonstrate installation of a manufactured treatment system in a Phase II community; and (2) obtain field performance data. A hydrodynamic swirl separator was first used and later a mobile filtration system was evaluated at a 5-acre county public works yard near Dalton, Georgia. Both treatment systems are designed by AquaShieldTM Inc. and fabricated in Huntsville, Alabama. Automatic flow samplers collected runoff at the swirl separator during four events for oils and grease and total suspended solids (TSS). Field testing of a mobile filtration system by grab sampling for TSS and particle size distribution was done under simulated runoff events. The TSS removal efficiencies of the filtration system were greater than 90 percent. Sediment capture of the hydrodynamic swirl averaged 3 inches per month. Several real-world observations of this project will be covered. One measure, often overlooked as success, is satisfaction by the site manager-owner who has become a strong proponent of manufactured stormwater treatment systems.
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