Bioretention Cell Detoxification Lab (BCDL)

What the facility does

Stormwater assessment facility that tests urban infrastructure impacts on water quality, hydraulics and hydrology generated in urban landscapes.

Areas of expertise

The facility’s expertise ranges from water quality assessment and treatment, stormwater management, bacterial remediation using nature-based solutions, phytoremediation, civil engineering, environmental engineering, remote sensing and geomatics engineering. The infrastructure supports the research in sustainable solutions for mitigating the impacts of increasing urbanization and climate change on water resources.

Research services

Sustainable Development of Urban Water Resources: This research studies the efficacy of low impact development options such as permeable pavements and bioretention cells in Canadian climates to provide the best possible designs and prediction models.

River, and Nearshore Water Quality Modelling: We develop modelling and monitoring methods that provide insight into the impacts of pollutants on rivers and nearshore areas as well as environmental influences on water contamination.

Geomatics Technology in Support of Physically Based Modelling: We have developed remote sensing and Geographic Information System tools in support of determining relevant metrics that support characterization, assessment and modelling over large areas.

Sectors of application

Environmental technologies and related services

Specialized labs and equipment

Specialized lab	Equipment	Function
Hybrid Absorbable Landscapes Facility (HAL) in Parking Lot 6	Teledyne ISCO (Model 3700C) portable compact sampler	Samples water in the field.
HAL	Complete 3M Tripod Kit	Weather station component.
HAL	Light sensor bracket	Weather station component.
HAL	Solar radiation shield	Weather station component.
HAL	Full cross arm	Weather station component.
HAL	Weatherproof barometric pressure sensor	Weather station component.
HAL	Silicon pyranometer	Weather station component.
HAL	Rain gauge	Weather station component.
HAL	Wind speed and direction sensor	Weather station components.
HAL	HOBO U30 data logger	Weather station component.
HAL	HOBO U12 4-channel outdoor data logger	Weather station component.
HAL	HOBO Water Level Data Logger starter kit	Water quantity monitoring.
HAL	Peat sampler	Water quantity monitoring.
HAL	2840K2 Aardvark automated permeameter with digital scale and RIF	RIF (Record it In a Flash). Water quality monitoring.
HAL	YSI EXO2 multiparameter sonde	Water quality monitoring.
HAL	YSI EXO Total Algae	Water quality monitoring.
HAL	YSI EXO fDOM Sensor	Water quality monitoring.
Bioretention Research Laboratory in E-hut	Agilent 490 Micro gas chromatography system	Measures gas composition.
Bioretention Research Laboratory in E-hut	Skalar Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzer	Measures organic quantities in water samples.

Private and public sector research partners

Capital Regional District of Vancouver Island, BC
City of Calgary, Alberta
Town of Okotoks, Alberta
Source2Source Inc.
Chimera Consulting