Urban Runoff Research Articles

Assessment of Distinctive Road Runoff Quality in Coastal Areas, Based on a Monitoring Case Study

High levels of marine salt deposition present in coastal areas have a relevant effect on road runoff characteristics. This study assesses this effect with the purpose of identifying the relationships between monitored water quality parameters and intrinsic site variables. To achieve this objective, an extensive monitoring program was conducted on a Portuguese coastal highway. The study included 30 rainfall events, in different weather, traffic, and salt deposition conditions. The evaluations of various water quality parameters were carried out in over 200 samples. In addition, the meteorological, hydrological, and traffic parameters were continuously measured. The salt deposition rates were determined by means of a wet candle device, which is an innovative feature of the monitoring program. The relation between road runoff pollutants and independent variables associated with weather, traffic, and salt deposition conditions was assessed. Significant correlations among pollutants were observed. A high salinity concentration and its influence on the road runoff were confirmed. Furthermore, the concentrations of the most relevant pollutants seemed to be very dependent on some meteorological variables, particularly the duration of the antecedent dry period prior to each rainfall event and the average wind speed.

Development of Treatment-Train-Package Novel System for the Road Runoff Controlling in Urban Area

Development of Treatment-Train-Package Novel System for the Road Runoff Controlling in Urban Area

Taking Stormwater Uphill

Taking Stormwater Uphill

Aluminum-Based Water Treatment Residual Use in a Constructed Wetland for Capturing Urban Runoff Phosphorus: Column Study

Aluminum-based water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs) have a strong affinity to sorb P. In a proof- of-concept greenhouse column study, Al-WTR was surface-applied at rates equivalent to 0, 62, 124, and 248 Mg ha −1 to 15 cm of soil on top of 46 cm of sand; Al-WTR rates were estimated to capture 0, 10, 20, and 40 years of P from an urban watershed entering an engineered wetland in Boise, ID, USA. Creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) was established in all columns; one set of columns received no Al-WTR or plants. After plant establishment, once per week over a 12-week period, ∼1.0 pore volumes of ∼0.20 mg P L −1 were added to each column. Infiltration rates were measured, leachate was collected and analyzed for soluble P, and fescue yield, P concentration, and uptake were deter- mined. After plant harvest, the sand, soil, and the Al- WTR layer were collected and analyzed for Olsen P; amorphous Al, Fe, and P; P storage capacity (PSC); and soluble + Al + Fe-bound, occluded, and Ca-bound P phases. Infiltration rate increased only due to the pres- ence of plants. Leached P decreased (50 %) with plants present; Al-WTR further reduced soluble P leaching losses (60 %). Fescue yield, P concentration, and uptake increased with increasing Al-WTR rate, due to Al-WTR sorbing and potentially making P more plant available; Olsen-extractable P increased with increasing Al-WTR rate, supporting this contention. The PSC was reduced with the 62 Mg ha −1 Al-WTR rate but maintained with greater Al-WTR rates. The 124 and 248 Mg ha −1 Al- WTR rates also contained greater P associated with the soluble + Al + Fe and occluded phases which should be stable over the long term (e.g., decadal). It was recom- mended to apply Al-WTR near the 124 and 248 Mg ha −1 rates in the future to capture urban runoff soluble P in the Boise, ID, engineered wetland.

Review: Politics of Urban Runoff: Nature, Technology, and the Sustainable City

Review: <i>Politics of Urban Runoff: Nature, Technology, and the Sustainable City</i>

Comprehensive assessment of coastal eutrophication in Taiwan and its implications for management strategy

Due to the rapid population growth, anthropogenic activities result in agricultural, industrial, and urban diffuse runoffs that elevate the level of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in coastal waters. Currently there is no integrated analysis for coastal eutrophication in Taiwan. A comprehensive analysis of the coastal eutrophic status was performed in this study based on decade-long coastal water quality monitoring data from Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration. A 3-tiered monitoring strategy is recommended based on the severity of the current eutrophication state. Results indicate that the most problematic area of coastal eutrophication is located in the estuary of the Donggang River (DGR) and its adjacent coastal waters, i.e., the Kao-Ping mouth (KPM) and Dapeng Bay (DPB) in south-western Taiwan. With a worsening eutrophic status, these areas demand intensive monitoring and research with higher spatial and temporal resolutions to evaluate the stresses of nutrient forcing and predict possible future responses.

Nitrogen and phosphorus associating with different size suspended solids in roof and road runoff in Beijing, China.

Roofs and roads, accounting for a large portion of the urban impervious land surface, have contributed significantly to urban nonpoint pollution. In this study, in Beijing, China, roof and road runoff are sampled to measure the suspended solids (SS), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contained in particles with different sizes. The SS content in the road runoff (151.59 mg/L) was sevenfold that in the roof runoff (21.13 mg/L, p < 0.05). The SS contained more coarse particulates in the roof runoff than in road runoff. The small particulates in the range of 0.45-50 μm consisted of 59 % SS in the roof runoff and 94 % SS in the road runoff. P was mainly attached to particle sizes of 10-50 μm in the roof (73 %) and road (48 %) runoffs, while N was mainly in a dissolved phase state in both runoffs. So, the different associations of N and P raise a challenge in preventing stormwater pollution in urban environments.

Prevalence of indicator and pathogenic bacteria in a tropical river of Western Ghats, India

The Meenachil, the only river that flows through the heart of the Kottayam district of Kerala state, India was selected for the study. The present study has been carried out with an objective to systematically examine the prevalence of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms and to compare the microbiological quality of the river water during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Water samples from 44 different sites during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons were collected for the analysis. During the pre-monsoon period, the faecal coliform count ranged from 230 to 110,000 MPN/100 ml while there was a variation from 200 to 4600 MPN/100 ml during the post-monsoon period. When the faecal streptococci count was analysed, it ranged from 140 to 110,000 MPN/100 ml during the pre-monsoon and 70 to 4600 MPN/100 ml during the post-monsoon seasons, respectively. All the samples collected were found to have total viable count (TVC) higher than those prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards (ISI 1991). Total viable counts were found in the range of 1.1 × 102 to 32 × 102 cfu/ml in the pre-monsoon and 1.0 × 102 to 26 × 102 cfu/ml in the post-monsoon. The presence of faecal indicator bacteria, Escherichia coli and potentially pathogenic bacteria, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella enterica in the Meenachil River indicates that the bacteriological quality of the Meenachil River is poor. Moreover, it sheds light to the fact that raw sewage is being dumped into the Meenachil River. Urban runoffs and effluents of rubber factories appear to be the important sources of faecal contamination in the river. From this study, we conclude that these water bodies pose significant public health hazards. Adequate sanitary infrastructure will help in preventing source water contamination. Besides this, public health education aimed at improving personal, household and community hygiene is urgent.

Closure to “Relationship between Urban Runoff Pollutant and Catchment Characteristics” by Jorge Rodriguez-Hernandez, Andrés H. Fernández-Barrera, Valerio C. A. Andrés-Valeri, Angel Vega-Zamanillo, and Daniel Castro-Fresno

Closure to “Relationship between Urban Runoff Pollutant and Catchment Characteristics” by Jorge Rodriguez-Hernandez, Andrés H. Fernández-Barrera, Valerio C. A. Andrés-Valeri, Angel Vega-Zamanillo, and Daniel Castro-Fresno

Discussion of “Relationship between Urban Runoff Pollutant and Catchment Characteristics” by Jorge Rodriguez-Hernandez, Andrés H. Fernández-Barrera, Valerio C. A. Andrés-Valeri, Angel Vega-Zamanillo, and Daniel Castro-Fresno

Discussion of “Relationship between Urban Runoff Pollutant and Catchment Characteristics” by Jorge Rodriguez-Hernandez, Andrés H. Fernández-Barrera, Valerio C. A. Andrés-Valeri, Angel Vega-Zamanillo, and Daniel Castro-Fresno

Effectiveness of Man-Made Wetland Systems in Filtering Contaminants from Urban Runoff in Milledgeville, Georgia.

A wetland system made up of linked basins was investigated to determine its role in local flood control and contaminant filtration. The study focused on a wetland basin that is dominated by the Celtis laevigata plant and is underlain by clay, with a small sandy layer approximately 1 m below surface. Field and laboratory data were collected to understand the transport and filtration of phosphate, iron, and nitrate. Field results showed the wetland to effectively reduce iron and phosphates from runoff via groundwater flow. These results also showed an increase in the phosphate concentration of surface water while within the basin, resulting from agitation of wetland sediments. Laboratory column experiments showed more than 90% reduction in phosphorus and iron while nitrate concentrations increased above the input concentration. Phosphate and iron were high in wetland water immediately after a rain event. Nitrate concentrations increased as the water filtered through the sediments due to desorption of previously adsorbed nitrates. This wetland could potentially act as a temporal hot spot and rain events as hot moments for these substances. Therefore, the best flood control measure for this site would be to increase residence time in the wetland. This would help to better manage/control the concentration of phosphate, iron and nitrate pollution in surface waters.

Advancing analysis of spatio-temporal variations of soil nutrients in the water level fluctuation zone of China's Three Gorges Reservoir using self-organizing map.

The ~350 km2 water level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) of China, situated at the intersection of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, experiences a great hydrological change with prolonged winter inundation. Soil samples were collected in 12 sites pre- (September 2008) and post submergence (June 2009) in the WLFZ and analyzed for soil nutrients. Self-organizing map (SOM) and statistical analysis including multi-way ANOVA, paired-T test, and stepwise least squares multiple regression were employed to determine the spatio-temporal variations of soil nutrients in relation to submergence, and their correlations with soil physical characteristics. Results showed significant spatial variability in nutrients along ~600 km long shoreline of the TGR before and after submergence. There were higher contents of organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), and nitrate (NO3-) in the lower reach and total phosphorus (TP) in the upper reach that were primarily due to the spatial variations in soil particle size composition and anthropogenic activities. Submergence enhanced soil available potassium (K), while significantly decreased soil N, possibly due to the alterations of soil particle size composition and increase in soil pH. In addition, SOM analysis determined important roles of soil pH value, bulk density, soil particle size (i.e., silt and sand) and nutrients (TP, TK, and AK) on the spatial and temporal variations in soil quality. Our results suggest that urban sewage and agricultural runoffs are primary pollutants that affect soil nutrients in the WLFZ of TGR.

Molecular-based approaches to characterize coastal microbial community and their potential relation to the trophic state of Red Sea.

Molecular-based approaches were used to characterize the coastal microbiota and to elucidate the trophic state of Red Sea. Nutrient content and enterococci numbers were monitored, and used to correlate with the abundance of microbial markers. Microbial source tracking revealed the presence of >1 human-associated Bacteroides spp. at some of the near-shore sampling sites and at a heavily frequented beach. Water samples collected from the beaches had occasional exceedances in enterococci numbers, higher total organic carbon (TOC, 1.48–2.18 mg/L) and nitrogen (TN, 0.15–0.27 mg/L) than that detected in the near-shore waters. Enterococci abundances obtained from next-generation sequencing did not correlate well with the cultured enterococci numbers. The abundance of certain genera, for example Arcobacter, Pseudomonas and unclassified Campylobacterales, was observed to exhibit slight correlation with TOC and TN. Low abundance of functional genes accounting for up to 41 copies/L of each Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Campylobacter coli were detected. Arcobacter butzleri was also detected in abundance ranging from 111 to 238 copies/L. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with cyanobacteria, Prochlorococcus, Ostreococcus spp. and Gramella were more prevalent in waters that were likely impacted by urban runoffs and recreational activities. These OTUs could potentially serve as quantifiable markers indicative of the water quality.

Physiological biomarkers in a resident and a non-resident estuarine teleosts species: a comparison between fish from an industrially impacted site and a non-impacted site

Physiological biomarkers were compared in two estuarine fishes: an estuarine resident (Atherinella brasiliensis) and a marine/estuarine transient (Sphoeroides testudineus). These fish were sampled from two estuarine systems: one with an active harbor (impacted site), and another which receives mostly domestic urban runoffs and is much less impacted (reference site). The resident fish displayed higher plasma osmolality and sodium (1.13 and 1.35-fold, respectively), and the transient fish displayed higher plasma osmolality (1.05-fold), potassium (1.17-fold), and magnesium levels (1.84-fold) in the impacted site, when compared to the reference site. The resident fish showed increased renal carbonic anhydrase activity and branchial expression of HSP70 (3.3-fold) in the impacted site, when compared to the reference site. Osmoregulatory parameters and HSP70 expression are strong candidates as physiological biomarkers for environmental assessment of industrial impact on estuarine teleost fishes.

Characterization of biogenic phosphorus in outflow water from constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands and sedimentation ponds are increasingly used to protect downstream ecosystems against nutrient loads that can lead to impairments of these. Outflows from the most effective ones often only discharge particulate phosphorus (P) and dissolved organic P (DOP) while readily available dissolved inorganic P is 100% retained in the systems. Hence, a large part of P discharged from these areas may have an organic origin. We have chosen to term these biogenic P. The aim of this study was to determine the transformations of biogenic P in different wetlands and to determine the composition of biogenic P in outflow from constructed wetlands in order to get an estimate of the potential bioavailability and significance of the pool of biogenic P for the downstream ecosystems.The composition of biogenic P was determined by 31P NMR spectroscopy in inflow and outflow water from 8 treatment wetlands and 1 large sedimentation pond. Biogenic P was quantitatively important in five of the wetlands which discharged water with low TP levels. Biogenic P mainly consisted of orthophosphate diesters (DNA, RNA and P lipids) and their monoester degradation products. These are potentially labile in downstream systems.Also, poly- and pyrophosphate contributed significantly to the biogenic P in several outlets. Several of the systems, especially those that included pond areas combined with a high P loading, produced poly- and pyrophosphates but they were also produced in Lake Apopka marsh areas that as well had a high P loading rate. Poly-P accumulation in microbes and algae are likely to occur under conditions where P is in excess compared to other nutrients and can be quickly released under conditions of P limitation or anoxic stress.One of the wetlands received secondary treated wastewater whereas the others received agricultural and urban runoffs. The biogenic P composition in this wetland deviated by having a large percentage of phosphonates coming from the wastewater. The potential bioavailability will however depend on the type of phosphonate as well as on the existence of phosphonate degrading microorganisms.

Analysis of the influence of rainfall variables on urban effluents concentrations and fluxes in wet weather

Summary Urban rainfall runoff has been a topic of increasing importance over the past years, a result of both the increase in impervious land area arising from constant urban growth and the effects of climate change on urban drainage. The main goal of the present study is to assess and analyze the correlations between rainfall variables and common indicators of urban water quality, namely event mean concentrations (EMCs) and event fluxes (EFs), in order to identify and explain the impacts of each of the main rainfall variables on the generation process of urban pollutants during wet periods. To perform this analysis, runoff from eight summer rainfall events that resulted in combined sewer overflow (CSO) was sampled simultaneously from two distinct catchment areas in order to quantify discharges at the respective outfalls. Pearson statistical analysis of total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand at 5 days (CBOD 5 ), total phosphorus ( P tot ) and total kedjal nitrogen (N-TKN) showed significant correlations ( ρ = 0.05) between dry antecedent time (DAT) and EMCs on one hand, and between total rainfall (TR) and the volume discharged (VD) during EFs, on the other. These results show that individual rainfall variables strongly affect either EMCs or EFs and are good predictors to consider when selecting variables for statistical modeling of urban runoff quality. The results also show that in a combined sewer network, there is a linear relationship between TSS event fluxes and COD, CBOD 5 , P tot , and N-TKN event fluxes; this explains 97% of the variability of these pollutants which adsorb onto TSS during wet weather, which therefore act as tracers. Consequently, the technological solution selected for TSS removal will also lead to a reduction of these pollutants. Given the huge volumes involved, urban runoffs contribute substantially to pollutant levels in receiving water bodies, a situation which, in a climate change context, may get much worse as a result of more frequent, shorter, but more intense rainfall events.

Environmental risk assessment of the Moroccan Atlantic continental shelf: The role of the industrial and urban area

The present research presents the first large-scale analysis of heavy metal assessment in the Moroccan Atlantic shelf. This work provides scientific basis for future studies on environmental research and fills the gap in knowledge on the worldwide continental platforms.Metal distributions identified three different zones, mainly influenced by industrial and urban sewer (northern areas), agriculture runoffs (central zone), and estuarine discharges (southern areas), respectively. In the north part of the shelf, metal enrichments are observed near industrial and urban sewer mouths (Casablanca and Mohammedia cities). In the south and central areas, the probable absence of human impact on sediments is attributed to effective trapping in the estuary (Oum Er Rbia) and coastal zones, as well as dilution with less contaminated sediments and shelf sediments and removal with fine fractions due to estuary discharges.

昆明市明通河流域降雨径流水量水质SWMM模型模拟

昆明市明通河流域降雨径流水量水质SWMM模型模拟

강우유출수의 중금속 제거(Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb 및 Zn)를 위한 발포폴리프로필렌 여재를 사용한 EcoTankTM 시스템의 현장적용

강우유출수의 중금속 제거(Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb 및 Zn)를 위한 발포폴리프로필렌 여재를 사용한 EcoTankTM 시스템의 현장적용

Whole cell imprinting based Escherichia coli sensors: A study for SPR and QCM

The detection of pathogenic bacteria is essential for a sustainable prevention of water quality and by this way prevention of life threatening illnesses. It is important to use rapid methods for pathogenic bacteria detection but traditional detection methods may take up to a whole week. In this report, we describe a molecular imprinting based bacteria sensor via whole cell imprinting for rapid detection of bacteria from water sources. Here, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is selected as model bacteria because of it is one of the most abundant pathogenic bacteria in ground water sources and may cause severe illnesses. The presence of E. coli in the water sources is an indicator of urban and agricultural runoffs, so monitoring E. coli contamination is important to preserve quality of the water sources. Traditional detection methods for E. coli include genomic analysis, antibody based assays, culture methods, fluorescence and microscopy. Disadvantages of traditional bacteria detection methods induce many researches on other detection methods like biosensors. In this study, a new label-free rapid and selective detection method was developed via micro contact imprinting of whole cell on both optical and mass sensitive devices. The amino acid based recognition element, N-methacryloyl-l-histidine methylester (a polymerizable form of histidine) was used in this study to obtain similar recognition as in natural antibodies.