The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) is to develop comprehensive stormwater management strategies that seamlessly integrate flow diversion, retention, and advanced synergistic treatment trains. This research aims to reliably buffer rapidly varying flow regimes, capture and destroy complex mixtures of legacy and emerging chemicals of concern (COCs), and maintain high performance under variable hydrological regimes and severe spatial or infrastructure constraints.
Proposals responding to this SON must address one or more of the following critical research areas:
Source Control and In-Conveyance Treatment Strategies Using Existing Stormwater Infrastructure
- Optimize the design, configuration, and operational strategies of detention and retention basins for flow attenuation, hydraulic buffering of episodic peak-flow events, and enhanced sedimentation management prior to active treatment.
- Develop dynamic flow-diversion technologies and routing strategies to isolate high-concentration initial COC loadings ("first flush") or direct stormwater to appropriate treatment assets based on real-time flow and water quality parameters.
- Develop compact, modular, below-grade treatment units featuring low-profile configurations that fit beneath active pavement, withstand heavy loads from aircraft and tactical vehicles, and incorporate hardened housings and bypass designs for areas near runways and test ranges.
- Evaluate engineering approaches to retrofit or couple retention structures with biological or physical-chemical treatment processes to achieve dual-benefit volume management and COC reduction within spatially-constrained footprints.
- Develop pavements and surfaces that enhance rainwater infiltration while minimizing COC migration to groundwater.
Synergistic Treatment Trains and Destruction Technologies
- Develop multi-barrier treatment trains that integrate gravity- and inertia-based separation (e.g., lamella settlers, dissolved air flotation, hydrocyclones), engineered sorption, and transformation/destruction technologies to address multiple target COCs concurrently while mitigating interference from confounding constituents (total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, nutrients, and algae).
- Evaluate transformation and destruction technologies for refractory COCs in stormwater matrices (including but not limited to supercritical water oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, advanced oxidation, plasma-based processes, and ultraviolet-based processes), with explicit attention to byproduct formation, energy demand, and operational cost, alongside life-cycle assessments for COC-laden residuals (e.g., spent media, foam fractionate, and settled solids).
Proposers must explicitly state how the proposed effort builds on previous research and addresses key data gaps. Research and development activities at laboratory-, bench, or field-scale will be considered. Work does not necessarily have to culminate in a field-scale effort.
Successful execution of this work will provide actionable, scalable, and cost-effective tools to manage complex stormwater challenges. Expected outcomes include robust design frameworks for retention basins, adaptable synergistic treatment trains for multi-COC removal, and enhanced site resilience that protects receiving waters, maintains mission-critical infrastructure, and ensures long-term regulatory compliance.
Stormwater frequently contains complex, co-occurring mixtures of legacy COCs (e.g., heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], pesticides) and emerging COCs (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS], 6PPD-quinone, microplastics, pharmaceuticals). These constituents partition differently across dissolved, colloidal, and particulate phases and are complicated by confounding factors such as total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), nutrients, and seasonal algae loads.
Traditional end-of-pipe approaches may struggle to manage intermittent runoff surges under severe spatial constraints, demanding comprehensive treatment trains that integrate above- and below-grade diversion and retention infrastructure. Developing synergistic, multi-stage treatment trains and engineering low-impact source control retrofits within existing conveyance networks allow existing drainage components to provide in-conveyance treatment without requiring new surface area. Ultimately, research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these strategies across diverse site conditions while quantifying COC mobilization under harsh or shifting environmental conditions for both legacy and emerging COCs.
The cost and time to meet the requirements of this SON are at the discretion of the proposer. Two options are available:
Standard Proposals: These proposals describe a complete research effort. The proposer should incorporate the appropriate time, schedule, and cost requirements to accomplish the scope of work proposed. SERDP projects normally run from two to five years in length and vary considerably in cost consistent with the scope of the effort. It is expected that most proposals will fall into this category.
Limited Scope Proposals: Proposers with innovative approaches to the SON that entail high technical risk or have minimal supporting data may submit a Limited Scope Proposal for funding up to $350,000 and approximately one year in duration. Such proposals may be eligible for follow-on funding if they result in a successful initial project. The objective of these proposals should be to acquire the data necessary to demonstrate proof-of-concept or reduction of risk that will lead to development of a future Standard Proposal. Proposers should submit Limited Scope Proposals in accordance with the SERDP Core Solicitation instructions and deadlines.
Anthony Danko, Ph.D., P.E.
SERDP & ESTCP Program Manager
Environmental Restoration
