Senior Associate
Florida Successes of Polymer Enhanced Best Management
Practices (PEBMPs)Steven R. Iwinski
Environmental Scientist
March 16th, 2007
Bonita Springs
Highway 98
City or Orlando
Fort Pierce
Polk County
Highway 98 Beach and Sand Stabilization
Highway 98 Damage by Hurricane Dennis
July 2005 (Carabelle to Eastpoint)
Highway 98 Repair - Carabelle to Eastpoint
Erosion after initial repair required an industrial BMP that would work on beach sands
Polymer Enhanced Soft Armor Systems was chosen. After grading, compost was placed as an organic
layer
Jute matting was placed over the organic layer as a binding media for attachment
of the polymer, sand and soil
Jute matting was placed over the 14 miles or repair area. 50 pounds / acre
polymer application rate was used
Sod was placed over the polymer enhanced BMP
This polymer enhanced BMP offers ready access to the beach and has
shown extensive vehicle traffic
One year after placement shows no erosion or need for further repair. This area received a
tropical depression and a category 1 hurricane after initial installation
After 16 months, no erosion can be found over the 14 miles showing that beach sands can be
stabilized even under hurricane conditions
City or Orlando Demucking and Mud Removal
A PEBMP for mud removal from ponds. After determining the correct polymer type to use, the
polymer is applied using a leaf blower
Once applied, the polymer is mixed into the mud until thickening occurs
Testing for the correct polymer type and thickening is required for good performance
Thickened mud is easily handled and can be used as an erosion resistant cover material or top soil
The polymer enhanced mud greatly reduces erosion, increases stormwater quality and holds nutrients in the soil
Polymer enhanced thickened mud can greatly reduce operational cost while increasing growth potential of vegetation
Polk County Dewatering of Phosphate Clay
Bonnie Mine Road Project during the 2005 hurricane season developed large amounts
of water that required dewatering
Phosphitic clay from gypsum mining required two different polymer log types or duplex system in order
to produce the correct conditions for dewatering
Once mixing was complete with the logs the particulate formed was collected onto jute
matting within the open channel ditch system
Water having 800 NTU was reduced to less than 20 NTU at a 1000 GPM continuous flow rate
This photo shows the before and after water clarity of the dewatering treatment system
Fort Pierce Lake Worth Dewatering Project
Dewatering / mixing pipe showing clay specific polymer logs with jute matting. Contaminated water
from construction activity is pumped from the site into the mixing system.
With flow stopped, jute matting shows the clay attached to the matting that was
removed from the water
Water from the construction settling pond was pumped over the logs that reacted
throughout the entire pipe system
Near end of the reaction pipe shows clarified water at less than 20 NTU
Final discharge of clarified water discharged to Lake Worth. Absence of aquatic toxicity potential allows for a flow through system with no hazard to the environment
Bonita Springs Leitner Creek By-pass Canal
Leitner Creek By-pass Canal 4400’ long discharges to Estero Bay a OFW
(Outstanding Florida Waterbody).
OFWs are the most sensitive waters in the state of Florida requiring very effective BMPs
Yearly cleaning maintenance on this cannel produces ranges between 400-1000 NTU values
with background values being 5-13 NTU
A basket containing the precise polymer logs matched to the turbidity characteristics was used
as a mixing device to react with the turbidity
The basket was placed in the canal downstream from the work area to intercept the turbid water flow
As the turbid water flowed through the basket a low dosage of the polymer mix in the logs
reacted with the turbidity in the water
To prevent the reacted particles from escaping the canal, particle curtains were installed to attach the
particulate to the surface of the curtains
Reacted particles attach to the surface of the particle curtains while allowing the water to flow through the curtains
The combination of correct polymer selection and particle capture BMP can produce very clean
water meeting OFW requirements
The polymer enhanced BMP for this project maintained clear water
discharges with NTU values within OFW requirements
Polymer enhanced BMPs significantly reduce odor and increased water clarity resulting in
reduced complaints from area residents
Senior Associate
Reference Web Sites
www.stormwater.ucf.edu
www.siltstop.com
www.rhmooreassociates.com
www.riversofgrass.com