Applying green infrastructure to treat Escherichia coli polluted stormwater runoff at Bayfront Beach, Hamilton, Ontario

Abstract

In beach environments heavily populated by waterfowl, E.coli from feces can cause major impairments to beach water. During rainfall events, feces are carried into receiving waters, which can elevate E.coli concentrations above the regulatory recreation water quality standard. When waters do not meet the standard, the beach environment becomes unsafe for human contact and must close to public use. This research explores green infrastructure as an alternative treatment for E.coli pollution at the case study site, Bayfront Beach, Ontario. A site inventory, design concepts, and analysis on suitabilities/capabilities were developed based on data collected through municipal reports and semi-structured interviews with key informants. The findings in the background research informed a framework for green infrastructure design. A final design concept implementing the framework was developed to demonstrate the application of green infrastructure to treat E.coli polluted runoff. Finally, both the framework and concept was evaluated by the key informants.