Do storm event samples bias the comparison between sewer deposits contribution?

Abstract

Previous researches demonstrated the occurrence of unique in-sewer sediment, the organic layer, on the Marais site in Paris, capable of explaining the entire wet weather sewer production of suspended particles. Other studies on sites having no similar organic sediment, Clichy in Paris and Ecully in Lyon, demonstrated a wet weather sewer deposits contribution (SDC) to effluent pollution comparable to that of the Marais site, casting therefore doubts on the implication of the organic layer to the outlet discharge pollution. So, an in-depth comparative investigation of the different sites' mean SDC was carried out to confirm or refute the major role of this layer vis-à-vis sewer production. The size and characteristics of the events' sample used to calculate the SDC were analyzed to find whether a statistical bias may have masked a difference that would be more coherent with field observations. After homogenizing these elements, the organic layer regained some of its previously alleged participation in sewer contribution (a maximum of 36% of the total SDC) but another unknown source was still dominant. This suggests that sewer sediment production during wet weather is a result of multiple sediment erosion: the organic layer and another major source not yet identified.