Learn about challenges posed by water-soluble nutrients (e.g., nitrate, dissolved phosphorus) and hydrophilic trace organic contaminants (e.g., pesticides, vehicular compounds, building biocides) on green stormwater infrastructure in the December 18 seminar "Addressing the Challenge of Water-Soluble Emerging Contaminants in Green Stormwater Infrastructure."
This seminar is part of the Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series, which provides an opportunity to learn about the most recent research, discoveries, and case studies around urban stormwater management, specifically for an audience of stormwater practitioners, professionals, and researchers. Seminars include a presentation, panel discussion, and Q&A with participants.
Registration is required to attend this hybrid event.
When
Thursday, December 18, 2025
10:00 a.m. to noon
In-Person Location
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory
2 S.E. 3rd Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Zoom Link
The seminar is also offered virtually via Zoom.
Registration
Registration is required for in-person or virtual attendance.
Speaker
- Gregory H. LeFevre, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, University of Iowa
Abstract
Water-soluble contaminants present a wicked challenge for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), which have been historically designed for particles and particle-associated contaminants. Soluble nutrients (e.g., nitrate, dissolved phosphorus) and hydrophilic trace organic contaminants (e.g., pesticides, vehicular compounds, building biocides) cannot be conventionally filtered and poorly sorb to conventional bioretention media, thereby presenting a risk to receiving waters if these contaminants pass through. There is thus a critical need to understand the fate of soluble contaminants in green stormwater infrastructure and improve sustained removal processes through innovations in GSI geomedia. We contend that synergizing innovative sorptive materials with biological processes is key to capturing contaminants during storm events and subsequently biodegrading contaminants during antecedent dry periods. In this work, I will describe our team’s research on developing novel GSI geomedia with encapsulated sorptive materials and biodegrading microbes (bacteria, fungi) to capture and treat soluble contaminants. Additionally, we probe plant uptake and transformation processes for trace organic contaminants in GSI. New and ongoing research characterizes complex contaminant mixtures using non-target analysis for organic contaminant mixture evolution through green infrastructure. Finally, I will present a forthcoming tiered conceptual framework to consider GSI intervention prioritization for soluble, hydrophilic contaminants.
Event Hosts
The Minnesota Stormwater Seminar and Research Spotlight Series is hosted by the St. Anthony Falls Lab and the Water Resources Center.
Contact
John Bilotta, water resource management and policy extension educator, Minnesota Sea Grant and Water Resources Center. [email protected].