Details:

Creators:
Fitch, G. Michael ; Gillespie, James S.
Fitch, G. Michael ; Gillespie, James S. Less -
Corporate Creators:
Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)
Corporate Contributors:
Virginia. Dept. of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
Virginia. Dept. of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration Less -
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Runoff Salt-laden Runoff Salt Storage Facilities Underground Storage Tanks Water Storage
Publication/ Report Number:
FHWA/VTRC 17-R24
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Virginia ; United States
Virginia ; United States Less -
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.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
101937
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:13ba8431d0fd7c4147595a8a26f71896efb5ed0e10ebddc15ba2505400960736
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32434/dot_32434_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

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