Oregon Port Installs Storm Water Treatment System

The new system is designed to limit copper from entering the Columbia River
Dec. 1, 2017

Port of Astoria, Ore., completed a storm water treatment system mandated by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to limit copper from entering the Columbia River. Despite construction obstacles from heavy rainfall that disrupted vegetation from taking hold, the system is now operational.

According to the Daily Astorian, the Port of Astoria storm water treatment system utilizes a series of settling ponds to treat storm water runoff before it enter the Columbia River. Pumps through the central waterfront move water through the ponds first removing suspended solids. The water then flows to a vegetated area with plants that naturally remove metals and treat the water.

Recent rainfall proved the system’s effectiveness. Executive Director of the project Jim Knight said, “It’s been quite the ordeal. I’m glad that we finally got to this completion stage now.”

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