Identification of Stormwater Pollution Hotspots in Charleston Peninsula

Abstract

Flooding is of great concern in fast-growing coastal communities, especially in the southeastern US, due to multiplying threats such as extreme precipitation, coastal storms, and rising sea levels. Contamination associated with stormwater runoff is often given less attention during stormwater planning and management decisions. The US EPA has long recognized that stormwater runoff is the biggest contributor to the impairment of water bodies in the US. In this study, we studied stormwater runoff contamination in a densely developed section of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, to better understand the extent of the problem and identify potential hotspots that could aid in future stormwater management decisions.