A Hedmark

Review of environmental effects and treatment of runoff from storage and handling of wood

This review paper summarises the environmental effects of runoff from wood handling sites including log yards. The characteristics of site runoff and the corresponding effects on the receiving watercourses are presented for worldwide case studies, highlighting the urgent need to address the water pollution problem associated with the wood industry. The methods used to reduce the negative environmental impact of the runoff, such as constructed wetlands, soil infiltration and chemical oxidation, are evaluated. The principal environmental problem of runoff is usually the high concentration of organic substances originating from the wood and bark, some of which are toxic to aquatic life. Phosphorus is also a problem according to some studies. The toxicity of the runoff varies greatly, and depends on the species of tree stored, the amount of water the wood has been in contact with and the degree of runoff treatment.

Treatment of log yard runoff in a couch grass infiltration wetland in Sweden

Sprinkling is often used in Scandinavia to protect round wood stored for industrial use from fungal and insect attack and drying cracks. Log yard runoff can be harmful for the water recipient due to eutrophication and oxygen depletion. A wetland system for treatment of log yard runoff is being evaluated in central Sweden. The purification capacity of a sloping couch grass (Elytrigia repens L.) field was examined when log yard runoff was applied to the field through a sprinkling system. Water samples were taken from groundwater pipes during four summer seasons (May to September, 2002–2005) and analysed for total organic carbon, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen and distillable phenols to evaluate the purification capacity of the infiltration wetland. Results from 2002 to 2004 were compared with results from 2005 when the irrigation intensity was considerably lower. Overall, the results showed good purification capacity although the concentrations of TP in the groundwater increased during 2005. The reduced hydraulic load did not increase purification.