Louisville Zoo Water Treatment

A nationally renowned zoo enhances ecological stewardship through treatment of water discharged from its habitat enclosures.

Spanning 134 acres and drawing more than 900,000 annual visitors, the Louisville Zoological Gardens (the Zoo) exhibits more than 1,100 animals. The Zoo’s efforts to advance its mission to “Better the Bond Between People and Our Planet,” extend beyond its excellent animal care and conservation education to include its own operations.

Water from overflow and washout of the Zoo’s habitat enclosures, discharges into the South Fork of Beargrass Creek, part of the Beargrass Creek watershed that eventually drains to the Ohio River. When this discharge for two outfalls exceeded state chlorination limits, Louisville Metro hired Biohabitats to help investigate site conditions, identify potential mitigation strategies, and explore the feasibility of alternative solutions.

For the first phase of this two-phase project, Biohabitats reviewed all available site data and visited the site to examine existing water infrastructure, drainage issues, and stream, riparian, and floodplain characteristics. Biohabitats then outlined several potential solutions to reduce chlorine concentrations at the Zoo’s two outfalls and reviewed them with Zoo staff during an alternatives charrette. The preferred options included chemical dosing at both outfalls and providing additional polishing at one outfall by converting a settling basin into a free water surface treatment wetland. During the second phase of the project, Biohabitats prepared a 30% concept design package.

TAGS

• Analysis+Planning
• Assessment+Monitoring
• Resilient Water Systems