Stormwater Contamination of Urban Estuaries. 1. Predicting the Build-Up of Heavy Metals in Sediments

Abstract

Many coastal cities are situated around estuaries, which act as traps for urban-derived contamination. To investigate urban development options, to help manage the urbanization process, and to set priorities for retrofitting urban stormwater controls, a model was developed to predict the build-up of contaminants (Pb, Zn, and Cu) in the sediments of sheltered estuaries. This model broadly integrates processes occurring in the estuary and predicts the distribution of sediment-associated contaminants throughout the estuary. It is based on yields of suspended sediment and contaminants from developing and mature catchments and is applicable to shallow, sheltered estuaries and harbors that have accumulated fine sediments. The information required to develop and run the model, and the sensitivity of the model to variation in its parameters, is described in detail.