BACKGROUND

Recent data on emerging contaminants has prompted state departments of transportation (DOTs) and water authorities to explore significant investments in stormwater sampling and treatment infrastructure. This proactive approach aims to more fully understand the occurrence and impact of emerging contaminants and the effectiveness of stormwater treatment systems. By gathering this data, decision-makers can offer more accurate, informed strategies for managing stormwater, leading to more efficient design, construction, and maintenance of treatment systems.

Research is needed to determine the methods and materials needed to measure concentrations of emerging contaminants in runoff, stormwater-treatment system effluent, and receiving waters to support cost-effective quantitative threat assessments and treatment decisions. 

OBJECTIVE 

The objective of this project is to develop recommended practices for state DOTs for assessing sampling methods used to measure emerging contaminants as well as new contaminants identified in the future. 

TASKS

PHASE I: Planning and Initial Outreach

Task 1. Conduct a review of literature, tools, specifications, labor resources, training guidance, and other resources relevant to contaminant sampling in stormwater and stormwater-treatment system effluent. The review should include the evaluation of case studies illustrating promising stormwater sampling, processing, and analysis techniques with the potential to inform future accepted practices.

Task 2. Conduct a statistically defensible meta-analysis to identify the sources of uncertainty, quantify the variability, and examine the limitations caused by differing sampling practices.

Task 3. Develop a plan for targeted stakeholder outreach. The outreach should target practitioners and subject matter experts from state DOTs, water authorities, academic institutions, and policy and other relevant organizations. The plan should detail strategies for eliciting participant feedback on practices, limitations, and desired improvements to current practices. Submit a technical memorandum #1 including the results of Tasks 1 and 2 and the plan developed in Task 3. NCHRP approval of the technical memorandum is required before work on subsequent tasks may begin.

Task 4. Administer and summarize the stakeholder outreach. Submit a technical memorandum #2 summarizing the results of the stakeholder outreach. NCHRP approval of the technical memorandum is required before work on subsequent tasks may begin.

Task 5. Propose a method to achieve the research objective to be fully developed in Phase II. At minimum, the method will include:

• Development of a sampling and analysis plan consistent with industry standard guidance for quality assurance project plans (QAPP) for known contaminants, with an emphasis on recommended practices and required level of effort 
• Field testing to evaluate the performance of the sampling and analysis plan
• Development of a framework for building a sampling and analysis plan for the examination of future unknown and emerging contaminants
• Annotated outlines or mockups of the proposed project deliverables

Task 6. Prepare Interim Report No. 1 that documents Tasks 1 through 5 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research. The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase II.

PHASE II: Execute the Method and Produce Final Deliverables

Task 7. Execute the research method according to the approved Interim Report No.1.

Task 8. Conduct a follow-on stakeholder outreach effort, with the goal of eliciting practitioner feedback on the research method developed in Task 7. Summarize the outreach in an online debrief with the NCHRP, including any recommended changes to the deliverables. Any proposed changes must be approved by the NCHRP.

Task 9. Prepare the draft final deliverables, which shall include the following:

• A conduct of research report that documents the entire research effort
• The sampling and analysis plans for known contaminants, the investigative framework for future contaminants, and the field demonstration report
• Public outreach materials, including a PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes
• A standalone technical memorandum entitled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”

STATUS: Proposals have been received in response to the RFP. The project panel will meet to select a contractor to perform the work.