The Fundamentals of High-Rate Biofiltration
(Print PDH from the August 2021 Issue of Informed Infrastructure)
Course Information
From California to Maryland, high-rate biofiltration continues to gain acceptance within the regulatory and engineering community as an acceptable alternative to traditional bioretention. These systems provide high treatment levels in a compact size (see Figure 1), making biofiltration feasible on sites where traditional bioretention is not possible. They have earned numerous agency approvals for meeting water-quality standards for post-construction best-management practices (BMPs). In addition, they benefit from being smaller in size, which saves valuable land space and reduces long-term maintenance costs compared to traditional bioretention.
Author
Alex MacLeod, P.E., Mindy Hills, CPSWQ, David Corr, and Vaikko Allen
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this article, the reader should be able to:
• Define high-rate biofiltration.
• Define the benefits of high-rate biofiltration.
• Define the pollutant-removal mechanisms of high-rate biofiltration.
• Compare the pollutant-removal capabilities of high-rate biofiltration vs. traditional bioretention.