Flow, Filter and Foliage: Measuring Bioswale Performance

According to the organizers:

New York City uses a combined sewer system, where stormwater from the street is processed in the same system as our household sewage. When it rains, the large volume of water causes combined sewer systems to overflow, releasing untreated sewage into waterways in the area. This deep-seated infrastructure issue is a major source of pollution in NYC waterways. To combat this issue, the city has begun construction of thousands of bioswales, or rain gardens that can absorb large quantities of water and divert it from the city’s sewer system. Researchers are now looking at the ecology of bioswales to improve their performance. Panelists will introduce their ongoing research on the various plants and soil used in green infrastructure throughout the city and how the species and nutrient composition can affect bioswale performance.

Moderator: Suzanne Lipton, Columbia University Earth Institute

Panelists:

Sarah Bruner, Columbia University

Nandan Shetty, Columbia University

Walter Yerk, Drexel University