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ODOT is required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) to implement post-construction storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) for linear transportation systems that are sold after March 10, 2006. Several BMPs are candidates for this application (Vegetated Bio-filters Devices, Infiltration Devices, and Detention Devices). Of these the Exfiltration Trench Infiltration Device appear to be an attractive choice due to manageable construction costs and constructability and ease of maintenance and operation but, design optimization and performance verification are needed. STUDY OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research will include: 1) examining the design, durability, and construction of the Exfiltration Trench; 2) proposing revisions to the Exfiltration Trench to provide an optimum filter medium design to capture the first flush; 3) developing a maintenance manual; and 4) examining any and all possible safety concerns.

With the increased scrutiny placed on operators of road side rest stops to maintain system operation within environmental regulatory requirements and maintain low cost operations, the Ohio Department of Transportation in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, commissioned the implementation of a wastewater treatment plant telemetry monitoring pilot project. This project incorporated the implementation of a state-of-the-art SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system providing ODOT operators and management the ability to remotely monitor and control operations of the Rt. 32 Rest Stop Wastewater Treatment plant. This rest stop is located in Pike County approximately 100 miles south of Columbus, Ohio. The system was retrofitted with new analog and discrete instrumentation tied to a local programmable controller. The programmable controller was designed with the ability for remote operation by ODOT supervisory personnel to access information via phone modem. The control scheme at the wastewater treatment plant was enhanced and modified to minimize ammonia discharge from the facility. This was accomplished by using the existing package treatment system and through software logic in the programmable controller modify the operation from a strictly timed operation into a sequencing batch reactor.