An analysis of the benefits of using underground tanks for the storage of stormwater runoff generated at Virginia Department of Transportation maintenance facilities.

Details

• Creators:
  Fitch, G. Michael ; Gillespie, James S.
• Corporate Creators:
  Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)
• Corporate Contributors:
  Virginia. Dept. of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Runoff
  • Water storage
  • salt-laden runoff
  • underground storage tanks
  • salt storage facilities
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/VTRC 17-R24
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Virginia ; United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)
• Abstract:
  The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) collects millions of gallons of runoff at its nearly 300 salt storage ; facilities each year, with some portion of this water being reused for the generation of salt brine. Storing this collected stormwater ; runoff in tanks rather than ponds affords some advantages in that less water is collected; the water that is collected remains ; cleaner; and the water is more likely to be properly managed and disposed of when necessary. ; The purpose of this study was to quantify the monetary benefits of using underground storage tanks for the temporary ; storage of salt-laden runoff generated at VDOT’s salt storage facilities. This was done by way of a simple cost analysis ; comparing the use of underground storage tanks to the open-pond systems more commonly used now. Information on the costs ; related to the purchase, construction, maintenance, and operation of both storage types was used to develop a simple cost ; estimation tool, i.e., a benefit/cost spreadsheet. The tool was structured so that modifications could be made based on sitespecific ; information on precipitation, water disposal costs, brine usage, etc. ; The study concluded that although the purchase price of underground storage tanks is substantially higher than that of ; ponds, the 50-year all-inclusive cost of tanks is similar to the cost of ponds for stormwater storage. Although the costs are highly ; variable and dependent on site-specific conditions, when the medium default values used in the benefit/cost spreadsheet are used, ; tanks are slightly cheaper than pond relining or new pond construction. As disposal costs increase above current values, storage ; by way of tanks will become an increasingly better option. ; Based on this information, the study recommends that VDOT’s Environmental Division collaborate with the Capital ; Outlay Section of VDOT’s Administrative Services Division, residency administrators, and area headquarters superintendents to ; evaluate the option of using underground storage tanks for the storage of stormwater runoff from salt loading pads at locations ; that are replacing (relining) existing ponds or at facilities where new pond construction is being considered.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  101937
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32434/dot_32434_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 746.78 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:13ba8431d0fd7c4147595a8a26f71896efb5ed0e10ebddc15ba2505400960736