New device traps heavy metals in urban runoff, reducing environmental pollution.
An infiltration device called a partial exfiltration trench (PET) can help trap heavy metals and solids in highway runoff. The PET works by filtering out metals and solids from the water that flows through it. Researchers found that heavy metals are closely linked to solid particles in snow runoff, but less so in rain runoff. This suggests that PETs could be effective in capturing metals during snow and long-lasting rain events.