Introduction to P-TRAP software for designing phosphorus removal structures

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) removal structures are a new best management practice for filtering dissolved P in non-point drainage from legacy P soils through use of P sorption materials (PSMs). Structures must be designed according to characteristics of the site (hydrology and constraints) and PSMs to be utilized, as well as user-defined goals (P removal, lifetime, and flow rate), making it a cumbersome process. A freely available P Transport Reduction App (P-TRAP) allows users to quickly produce a custom design or evaluate a hypothetical or existing structure. The software includes a library of P removal flow-through curves for many different PSMs conducted under various conditions of inflow P concentration and retention time. Design output includes the necessary PSM mass and orientation, pipe requirement, and a table of annual P removal. The software enables conservationists and engineers to quickly compare cost and efficiency among possible designs.

Phosphorus Transport Reduction App (P-Trap) software is used to evaluate and design site-specific P removal structures based on (a) user inputs regarding site and P sorption material (PSM) characteristics and (b) P removal performance goals.