Design of a Sand Filter for Stormwater Quality Enhancement

Abstract

The use of sand and other media filters is gaining acceptance in the field of urban stormwater structural best management practice. Much work has been done to develop local design guidance, such as in the State of Delaware and in Austin, Texas. Also, considerable field testing of these devices has occurred during the last 10 years. This paper consolidates much of the earlier work and provides the technical basis for the design of media filters for stormwater runoff treatment at any location in the U.S. The approach uses the unit processes known to exist in urban stormwater runoff and within filter devices. The suggested design is based on hydraulic capacity of the filter media, which, in turn, is a function of the total suspended solids removed by the filter.