Grass filtration - an innovative approach to the treatment of urban storm water

Abstract

"This thesis reports on a novel application of grass vegetated filter strips which has been developed to direct urban stormwater in two very different environments. The first was a new subdivision in the first stages of development. The site is in a hilly terrain with filter strip being established on a gradient of approximately 19% and with a ratio of catchment filter area of 250. This site highlighted some of the problems which can occur in areas or circumstances of high sediment generation." "The second site was retro-fitted into the stormwater system of a mature developed housing catchment of 26 ha with a filter strip being established in existing parklands on relatively flat terrain and with a filter of kikuyu grass at a gradient of approximately 3% and a ratio of catchment to filter area of approximately 350." --p. iii.