Dallas Zoo Stormwater

Outdoor animal enclosures (including the elephant exhibit) at the  Dallas Zoo produce nutrient and bacteria-laden runoff (essentially weak wastewater) that must be treated prior to discharge to the nearby Cedar Creek. Aqua Nova designed a multi-stage wetland system to treat up to 300,000 gallons of contaminated stormwater runoff per storm event for discharge to nearby creek. The system, can process up to 100,000 gallons of stormwater per day. The system relies on sedimentation, flow equalization and then a two-stage wetland system. Final treatment is 150 micron filters followed by UV disinfection system,

System engineering was headed by Aqua Nova owner, David Maciolek, P.E. initially for Worrell Water Technologies, LLC. The engineering and permitting was complete in 2014. Aqua Nova provided extensive construction support and commissioning in early 2016. Continued operations support and training of system operators continued through 2019.

*Project completed by Aqua Nova Engineering, now part of Inboden Environmental Services