Characterization of urban runoff quality: A Toronto case study (original) (raw)

Characteristics of stormwater runoff from urbanized areas

2012

Stormwater runoff affects the quality of surface water and groundwater due to the nonpoint sources (NPSs) of pollutants that it carries during storm events. Typically, urbanized areas experience high pollutant mass emission because of paved roads and other areas which are all highly impervious. For this reason, proper identification of the levels of pollutants from the watershed area is important to pass the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea’s water quality standards in rivers and streams. This research was conducted in order to determine and quantify the different constituents present in stormwater runoff generated from highly impervious areas in Cheonan City, Korea. Also, the average event mean concentration (EMC) of stormwater runoff from paved areas was compared with EMCs of other countries to determine the possible causes of its occurrence. In addition, the occurrence of first flush phenomenon was studied in order to find the first flush criteria to be used on th...

Urban Runoff: Nature, Characteristics and Control

Water and Environment Journal, 1994

ABSTRACTThe paper describes the nature and characteristics of urban runoff and the effects of urbanization and industrialization on the hydrologic/hydraulic regime and on water quality. The need for control measures to alleviate and prevent problems caused by urban runoff is highlighted, and this is related to the adverse environmental impacts of urban runoff.Measures and techniques currently available and under development for urban runoff control are described within the framework of regulators, service providers and the general public. The need for an integrated approach to urban runoff control is highlighted, and this is followed by a number of case studies demonstrating the cost‐effectiveness of an integrated approach.

Water quality in urban streams: what we can expect [USA]

Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, 1982

Despite 15 years of investigation into the water-qual ity problems caused by urban runoff, the national effort to improve water quality in urban streams is nearing a standstill. The areawide planning conducted under Section 208 of the Water Pollution Control Act amend ments (PL 92-500), was relied on to provide the nec essary abatement of urban runoff problems. This flurry of planning in urban areas was plagued by unrealistic deadlines that resulted in hasty data collection and com puter-modeling efforts. Many areawide agencies opted for expensive computer simulations to provide an as sessment of their assumed water quality problems, rather than collecting cause-and-effect water-quality data. Local officials were wary of these simulations, and consequently, little substantive implementation has re sulted. A report by the U. S. Comptroller General elaborates on these points.1 Recognizing that the existing assessment of the urban runoff problem was inadequate, the U. S. Environmen tal...