Technical and Environmental Functioning of Detention Ponds for the Treatment of Highway and Road Runoff

Abstract

Based on an inventory of more than 200 facilities for the treatment of road runoff water in Sweden, 26 representative stormwater ponds were studied with regard to technical function, maintenance and metal accumulation. Sediment accumulation and metal content in the pond sediment was studied in relation to concentration in the runoff water, spatial variation and pond geometry. It emerged that the pollution retention capacity was not optimal for many of the ponds. The observed sediment thickness was low reflecting turbulent conditions and that much of the pollutants are transported through the ponds. Statistical tests performed on 15 ponds showed a significant relationship between metal content in sediment and pond size while pond shape was found to have no effect on accumulation rate. There is still significant potential for the development of the design and technical function of the ponds, e.g. design elements such as pre-settlement trench and elements for enhancing high hydraulic efficiency. Disturbance of the technical function, in terms of clogging of pipes, erosion, flooding etc. was reviewed for three of the ponds, however only 50% of the ponds did show some form of documented maintenance-program. This generates an obvious threat to the effective long-term function of these ponds.