Stormwater Pollution, Monitoring and Management Approaches

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Stormwater is produced after rainfall, and in urbanised areas it flows from the surface on which it falls into the surface water system of pipes and drains. As such, therefore, it does not include foul, or blackwater, although in some instances, in the case of Combined Sewers, the two become mixed. At times, it is directed straight into the receiving watercourse where it can cause environmental degradation and subsequent impacts on ecosystem structure and function. The chemical characteristics of stormwater are dependent on the nature of surfaces (roads, roofs etc.) with which it comes into contact during the runoff process as well as natural processes and anthropogenic activities in the catchments. Monitoring of the contaminants transported in urban stormwater has been carried out for several decades globally, for example finding high concentrations of Pb caused by emissions from traffic, the weathering of old paint and industry which has led to the phasing out of leaded petrol in almost all countries of the world. Currently, attention has turned to organic compounds such as PAHs and TPHs, as well as New and Emerging Pollutants (NEPs) such as Personal Care Products (eg perfumes and deodorants), Medicines (eg ibuprofen, hormones) and nanoparticles. Management of stormwater has historically been “out of sight, out of mind” leading to the straightening, culverting and channelisation of water courses running though cities, and the synchronisation of storm peaks leading to flooding and contamination. Waste Water Treatment Works cannot cope with the extra volume of water and in the case of the combined storm sewer system, flooding of homes and their surroundings with a mixture of polluted stormwater and foul has the potential to severely impact both human and environmental health. Pipes and gulleys offer very little volume, virtually no treatment and no opportunities for improved biodiversity or amenity. Sustainable Drainage or SuDS does offer these benefits, at the same time as reducing water quantity and improving water quality by infiltrating excess water, detaining it, and allowing it to be slowly conveyed to the receiving watercourse. This chapter will therefore evaluate the ability of SuDS to address stormwater in terms of its sources, monitoring and management. It will do this mainly in terms of diffuse sources, transported from source to the receiving watercourse and will evaluate devices and management trains for their ability and efficiency in reducing the impacts of stormwater in the urban environment.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationStormwater
    Subtitle of host publicationSources, Monitoring and Management
    EditorsErnest O'Nnadi
    PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
    Chapter1
    Pages1-30
    Number of pages30
    Edition1
    ISBN (Electronic)9781536161632
    ISBN (Print)9781536161625
    Publication statusPublished - Jan 2020

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2019 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

    Keywords

    • management
    • monitoring
    • pollution
    • sources
    • stormwater

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Environmental Science(all)

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