Civil Engineering ETDs
Publication Date
Fall 10-24-2016
Abstract
Stormwater runoff has been referred to as the water quality issue of the day. Contamination of surface waters is an environmental concern for both human and ecosystem health. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, it is a common practice to pond stormwater runoff before it is released into the Rio Grande. Ponding stormwater works as a best management practice (BMP) to help remove floatable debris and contaminants. Mycofiltration is a BMP that has recently been introduced into the stormwater quality community. Mycofiltration is the use of fungal mycelium as a natural mitigation approach to stormwater pollution. Mycofiltration has been proven to reduce Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) in previous research studies testing limited variables such as contact time and mycelium species. The objectives of this study were to: (1) investigate the treatment effectiveness of mycofiltration to reduce the concentration of E. Coli after repeated exposure to synthetic stormwater in a wet environmental pond setting; and (2) analyze the long-term potential use of the P. Ostreatus mycelium in a wet environmental pond setting. The objectives of this study were met by simulating wet environmental ponds in a laboratory where each pond contained a floating Pleurotus Ostreatus inoculated mycofilter. The results of this study showed: (1) the mycofilter reduced the concentration of E.Coli at the water surface compared with controls; and (2) the long-term potential use of Pleurotus Ostreatus mycelium in a pond setting is promising. On average, the mycofilter reactors removed an overall amount of 98% of the E. Coli concentration. The amount of E. Coli removed increased week after week of testing; the Mycofilters removed 97% week 2 and 98% in week 3. Although there were complications with false positive results for E. Coli and unequal distributions of concentrations in the simulated ponds, the potential for using mycofilters as a real-life BMP is still supported by this study.
Keywords
mycofiltration, E.Coli, Stormwater, BMP, pond
Sponsors
Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo and Flood Control Authority
Document Type
Thesis
Language
English
Degree Name
Civil Engineering
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Civil Engineering
First Committee Member (Chair)
Dr. Mark Stone
Second Committee Member
Dr. Andrew Schuler
Third Committee Member
Dr. Kerry Howe
Recommended Citation
Martinez, Savannah E.. "E. Coli Removal by Pleurotus Ostreatus Mycofilter in Simulated Wet Environmental Pond." (2016). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/ce_etds/144
