Retrofitting Drop Inlets

Team Members: Connor Brogan, Dina Huynh, and Dalia Rakha

Advisors: Tess Thompson, Chuck Dietz, and Lauren Grimes
Problem Statement
Stormwater traditionally involved
water quantity not quality

Common pollutants include:

Sediment
Organic contaminants
(hydrocarbons, pesticides, etc.)
Nutrients
Heavy metals

This project seeks to reduce

contaminated flow through a filter
capable of being placed easily
within existing drop inlets.
 Constraints and Criteria
Criteria:
Must fit inside the current drop inlet
Conductivity within 50-200 in/hr
Device capable of surviving 10 yr storm
Needs to adhere to OSHA 50 lbs limit
Allow minimal flow without flooding
Maintenance by standard 2 man crew

Constraints:
Design life
Low cost
Easy maintenance/accessibility
High sediment capture
 Standards
2
1. Contech Engineered Solutions Filterra
System
2. VADEQ Bioretention System
3. FleXstorm Inlet Filters PURE catch basin
inserts
4. VADEQ Dry Swale

1 4 3
Design Solution
Conceptual Model

Conceptual design layout displaying 12 - 50 lbs media bags

 Design Solution
Actual Model

Actual inlet filter design for average drop inlet Test Prototype
Design Solution
TSS Reduction
Tin Initial Filter Final Filter Sediment Volume Sediment Sediment
Weight (mg) Weight + (mg) Captured (g/mL) Reduction
Sediment (mg) (mL) (%)
1 122.2 187.5 65.30 500 130.6
2 118.3 148.3 30.00 500 60.00 54.05
3 120.0 150.3 30.30 500 60.60 53.59
 Future Recommendations
1. Other contaminant
removal
2. Further structural design
refinement
3. Hydraulic grade line
consideration
4. Field Testing
Questions?
References
[1] NSA. 2016. NSA Commitment to the Environment. Central Security Service: National
Security Agency. Available at: https://www.nsa.gov/resources/everyone/commitment-to-
environment/assets/. Accessed 14 April 2017.
[2] CES. 2017. Filterra Bioretention. Conteches,: Contech Engineered Solutions. Available
at: http://www.conteches.com/products/stormwater-management/biofiltration-
bioretention/filterra. Accessed 16 April 2017
[3] VWRRC. 2011. Bioretention. Virginia DCR Stormwater Design Specification No. 9.:
Virginia Water Resources Research Center at Virgina Tech. Available at:
http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/swc/april_22_2010_update/DCR_BMP_Spec_No_9_BIORETENTIO
N_FinalDraft_v1-8_04132010.htm. Accessed 16 April 2017
[4] SMRC. Stormwater Design Example: Dry Swale. The Stormwater Managers Resource
Center Available at:
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/Manual_Builder/dry_swale_design_example.htm. Accessed
24 April 2017