Abstract
This study investigated the potential effect of climate changes on stormwater pollution runoff characteristics and the treatment efficiency of a stormwater retention pond in a 95 ha catchment in Denmark. An integrated dynamic stormwater runoff quality and treatment model was used to simulate two scenarios: one representing the current climate and another representing a future climate scenario with increased intensity of extreme rainfall events and longer dry weather periods. 100-year long high-resolution rainfall time series downscaled from regional climate model projections were used as input. The collected data showed that total suspended solids (TSS) and total copper (Cu) concentrations in stormwater runoff were related to flow, rainfall intensity and antecedent dry period. Extreme peak intensities resulted in high particulate concentrations and high loads but did not affect dissolved Cu concentrations. The future climate simulations showed an increased frequency of higher flows and increased total concentrations discharged from the catchment. The effect on the outlet from the pond was an increase in the total concentrations (TSS and Cu), whereas no major effect was observed on dissolved Cu concentrations. Similar results are expected for other particle bound pollutants including metals and slowly biodegradable organic substances such as PAH. Acute toxicity impacts to downstream surface waters seem to be only slightly affected. A minor increase in yearly loads of sediments and particle-bound pollutants is expected, mainly caused by large events disrupting the settling process. This may be important to consider for the many stormwater retention ponds existing in Denmark and across the world.
Highlights
Stormwater runoff from impervious areas such as roads, roofs and parking lots is increasingly catching attention due to impacts like increased frequency of flooding, deterioration of water quality in receiving waters and risk to the downstream ecosystems (e.g. ErikssonSharma et al SpringerPlus (2016) 5:1984 impact benthic organisms (e.g. Nakajima et al 2006; Gardham et al 2014), and compounds freely available in the water phase such as dissolved copper can lead to direct toxic effects to water living organisms (e.g. Allen and Hansen 1996; Ma et al 2002)
This study illustrated how the anticipated climate change impacts on extreme rainfall in Denmark may potentially lead to changes in stormwater runoff quality and removal efficiency of a stormwater retention pond
Measurements of hydrology and water quality of the current system showed the importance of extreme events for high suspended solids and particulate Cu concentrations and for the estimation of the total load discharged from the catchment
Summary
Stormwater runoff from impervious areas such as roads, roofs and parking lots is increasingly catching attention due to impacts like increased frequency of flooding, deterioration of water quality in receiving waters and risk to the downstream ecosystems (e.g. ErikssonSharma et al SpringerPlus (2016) 5:1984 impact benthic organisms (e.g. Nakajima et al 2006; Gardham et al 2014), and compounds freely available in the water phase such as dissolved copper can lead to direct toxic effects to water living organisms (e.g. Allen and Hansen 1996; Ma et al 2002). Stormwater runoff from impervious areas such as roads, roofs and parking lots is increasingly catching attention due to impacts like increased frequency of flooding, deterioration of water quality in receiving waters and risk to the downstream ecosystems Stormwater pollutants are regulated by different legislation around the world, e.g. the European Water Framework directive and the Environmental Quality Standards directive (European Commission 2000, 2008) or the U.S Clean Water Act (US EPA 2016). Management of stormwater quality is an essential part of strategies to improve the environmental status of natural waters. Water quantity effects of climatic change related to stormwater runoff and urban drainage systems have been studied Semadeni-Davies et al 2008a; Arnbjerg-Nielsen et al 2013), whereas effects of climatic change on urban emissions including water carried pollutants from stormwater systems have so far received little interest Water quantity effects of climatic change related to stormwater runoff and urban drainage systems have been studied (e.g. Semadeni-Davies et al 2008a; Arnbjerg-Nielsen et al 2013), whereas effects of climatic change on urban emissions including water carried pollutants from stormwater systems have so far received little interest
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