Tree box filter

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tree-box-filter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the system type?Engineered bioretention system for stormwater management
2. What is the primary mechanism?Physical filtration, biological uptake and transformation, and chemical adsorption of pollutants
3. How does a tree box filter clean rainwater?Water first goes through a mulch layer, then a special soil mix. Trees and their roots help soak up nutrients and heavy metals, while tiny microbes break down organic dirt.
4. Where are tree box filters used?They are placed in busy places like parking lots and street corners where there is a lot of pavement. The filters catch runoff before it reaches normal storm drains.

Bioretention: A stormwater management technique that uses engineered soil and vegetation to remove pollutants.
Stormwater runoff: Water from precipitation that flows over impervious surfaces, carrying contaminants into water bodies.
Green infrastructure: A network of natural and semi-natural areas and features that provide environmental benefits and services.
Impervious surfaces: Surfaces like roads, sidewalks, and rooftops that prevent water from soaking into the ground.