The Effectiveness of a Combination Weep Berm - Grass Filter Control System for Reducing Fecal Coliforms and Nutrients from Surface Runoff

Control of nonpoint source pollution is essential for improving water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the three primary pollutants to the nation's waterways are bacteria, nutrients, and sediment. Runoff from grazed pastures and manure applied land often contains high concentrations of fecal coliforms and nutrients. To control and treat this runoff, a low-cost, highly effective control system was developed and tested at the University of Kentucky's Maine Chance farm. The control system consisted of a combination weep berm and vegetative grass filter. Cattle manure was applied up-gradient of the BMP prior to the first experiment. A weekly rainfall simulation was conducted for three consecutive weeks on three replicate plots. Test results concluded that the control system was able to reduced fecal coliforms (99%), total nitrogen (87%), and total phosphorus (44%). Results indicate that the control system is an effective, low-cost, low maintenance practice for reducing nonpoint source pollution to waterways.