Evaluation of the Impacts of Land Use on Storm Water Quality: Case Study from Western Australia

Abstract

This study evaluates the impacts of land use on storm water quality. Storm water samples were collected from three main land use areas; residential, commercial and industrial lands around the Town of Victoria Park in Western Australia. Each sample was tested to measure important water quality parameters. Time variation of storm water flow, rainfall intensity and storm water quality clearly showed that the highest concentration of pollutants in storm water occurs during the first flush event. Further analysis shows that the commercial storm water demonstrated the cleanest appearing storm water with lowest amounts of suspended solids whereas the industrial storm water had the dirtiest appearing storm water quality. Nutrients in the residential storm water have the lowest nitrate, ammonia and phosphate concentrations. Overall, the industrial land use site recorded the worst storm water quality. Study further provides recommendations for water quality improvement and management controls.