Village of Dousman, WI
Project Description
The Village of Dousman recently constructed a storm water biofiltration device as part of the Main Street Reconstruction Project. A network of new storm sewer pipes was installed in an area that was previously prone to flooding. The new storm sewer system captures runoff from approximately 19 acres of the commercial downtown area. Storm water flows through this system to the new biofiltration device just north of the Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail, adjacent to a tributary to the Bark River. The Bark River is listed as impaired due to excess phosphorus, and is included in the Rock River Basin TMDL.
Project Highlights
Due to the elevation differences between the gravity storm sewer and the proposed biofiltration treatment area, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M) and the Village developed a unique design to intercept and treat smaller storm events. Storm water flows from the existing large diameter storm sewer, into a wet well chamber, then is pumped up into the biofiltration device, where it is filtered through a bed of engineered soil. An underdrain picks up the filtered water and discharges it to the tributary to the Bark River.
The result is a substantial reduction in TSS and phosphorus from the Village’s newly reconstructed downtown area, as well as an innovative and appealing biofiltration device along the Glacial Drumlin Trail.
The Village of Dousman was awarded a $150,000 Urban Nonpoint Source and Storm Water Grant from the Department of Natural Resources for the design and construction of this project. Users of the Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail can stop and rest near the vegetated biofiltration area, which includes native plant seed mix, while learning about the importance of storm water management in the Village.