Tracing Pollution Sources In An Urban Watershed A Gis Based Predictive Model Of Bacteria Contamination In Stormwater

This project explores whether it is possible to predict which urban stormwater pipe networks are most likely to be contaminated by wastewater inputs based on geographic information about the areas they drain. Wastewater pollution introduced into urban stormwater systems is a major source of impairment of water bodies in the United States, introducing pathogens and other pollutants, into rivers, streams, and lakes. Recent stormwater permits require extensive testing for bacteria. Efficiencies could be gained in remediating problems if an evidence-based prioritization scheme could target stormwater pipe networks based on publicly available information. I use a large data set of bacteria data in stormwater from the Mystic River watershed in Massachusetts, along with a GIS methodology, to explore a hypothesis that some features of the stormwater networks and the land they drain can usefully predict which networks will exhibit high bacteria values. Multiple regression analysis shows that pipe length, population density, and age of buildings in an area are significant predictors of high bacteria concentrations in the Mystic River dataset. In addition, I use the final regression model to estimate bacteria loads from stormwater outfalls. I conclude that the evidence supports a pollution-tracking prioritization scheme that tests large pipe networks first, at a minimum. I discuss the possible reasons for this somewhat surprising result, and suggest further ways to extend and refine this modeling approach.

Recent studies acknowledge the impact that stormwater has in receiving waters, often as great as wastewater, in urban contexts. Despite being widely studied, modelling of urban stormwater runoff has proven a challenge due to relevant spatial and temporal variability, and a short understanding of the build-up processes of diffuse source pollutants in dry weather. Current water quality evaluation is based on the level of faecal contamination, through faecal indicator bacteria, such as E. coli and enterococci. As pollution mitigation measures are currently converging towards treat-at-source solutions, it seems urgent to pinpoint the source of the detected faecal pollution in urban environments. Microbial source tracking methods are promising tools in finding the source of any contamination, but despite their fast development and numerous applications, they haven't yet been used to track faecal pollution in urban stormwater runoff. This study presents a viable tracking of three species - Humans, Cats and Dogs - through mitochondrial DNA markers, in collected samples, correlated with a strong degree of faecal pollution, highlighting the need for treatment at WWTPs prior to discharge.

Pollutants from storm water runoff in urban and developing areas degrade water quality. The implementation of storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) is one way to reduce non-point source pollution. Although there are many varieties of BMPs available, the selection of a cost effective BMP that meets water quality, flood control, site limitation, and other constraints is not an easy problem because it involves minimizing economic costs while simultaneously meeting watershed management objectives. A watershed model that combines BMP efficiency, downstream water quality response, while minimizing associated economic costs is a good logical approach to this problem. In this study, a rigorous mathematical optimization model was developed to produce a least cost or optimal mix of BMP types in a watershed. The modeling approach is based on a mixed integer linear programming formulation that is solved by an optimization software package. The principal focus of this research is to develop a useful planning and decision making tool which minimizes BMP costs subject to meeting water quality, flood control, site limitation, and other physical constraints.

With the continuing increase in population, more people are sharing the finite resources of the urban watershed, resulting in new and increasingly complex interactions between humans and the environment. Environmental contamination is a chronic problem-and an expensive one. In urban areas, water and soil contamination poses a threat to public healt

Urban Stormwater Modeling and Simulation discusses several popular stormwater models and explains a variety of uses in practical terms. This unique book is divided into five key sections and begins with a description of urban runoff problems and how computer models play an important role in problem solving. The book continues with detailed discussions on the construction of watershed models, model verification and validation, the use of models for predicting stormwater runoff and pollution discharges, and common problems associated with popular modeling programs. A practical approach is used throughout the book, focusing on actual applications to illustrate basic principles. This is the first book available that provides both new and experienced engineers, consultants, and scientists with an organized approach to stormwater modeling and simulation, model construction, model verification, and software selection. Water quality professionals, environmental engineering students, technical libraries, regulators, and planners will also find this a perfect hands-on learning tool.

Directions of diffuse pollution research and Best Management Practices are evolving, and effective and affordable methods of control are being developed to handle the abatement of toxic pollutants from atmospheric deposition, and urban and agricultural runoff. This book provides a useful manual covering the most important topics and solutions of the diffuse pollution problem with emphasis on urban sources and abatement.

The rapid conversion of land to urban and suburban areas has profoundly altered how water flows during and following storm events, putting higher volumes of water and more pollutants into the nation's rivers, lakes, and estuaries. These changes have degraded water quality and habitat in virtually every urban stream system. The Clean Water Act regulatory framework for addressing sewage and industrial wastes is not well suited to the more difficult problem of stormwater discharges. This book calls for an entirely new permitting structure that would put authority and accountability for stormwater discharges at the municipal level. A number of additional actions, such as conserving natural areas, reducing hard surface cover (e.g., roads and parking lots), and retrofitting urban areas with features that hold and treat stormwater, are recommended.

This book presents new findings on intrinsic variability in pollutant build-up and wash-off processes by identifying the characteristics of underlying process mechanisms, based on the behaviour of various-sized particles. The correlation between build-up and wash-off processes is clearly defined using heavy metal pollutants as a case study. The outcome of this study is an approach developed to quantitatively assess process uncertainty, which makes it possible to mathematically incorporate the characteristics of variability in build-up and wash-off processes into stormwater quality models. In addition, the approach can be used to quantify process uncertainty as an integral aspect of stormwater quality predictions using common uncertainty analysis techniques. The information produced using enhanced modelling tools will promote more informed decision-making, and thereby help to improve urban stormwater quality.

As the world population grows, already burgeoning cities are becoming taxed in every conceivable way. One topic that receives few headlines, but significantly impacts an area's quality of health and economic development is the challenge to maintain sustainable urban drainage (SUD). Poor drainage can hamper transportation, add to problems of polluti

According to the National Resources Defense Council, stormwater runoff rivals or exceeds discharges from factories and sewage plants as a source of pollution throughout the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency identifies urban stormwaters as the second largest source of water quality damage in estuaries and a significant contributor to the damage to lakes, rivers, and bays. The full impacts of marginal pollution, particularly that caused by uncontrolled overflows, must be recognized now and planning needs to be initiated to improve sewerage sytem efficiencies in order to bring wastewater flows under control. Time is of the essence for municipal programs because corrective action is a time consuming process. Current research and development is elucidating the most efficient and least costly methods needed to restore and maintain water resources. Based on seminars presented by international experts for the U.S. EPA, Wet-Weather Flow in the Urban Watershed: Technology and Management covers a broad spectrum of urban wet-weather flow management and pollution abatement topics. The topics covered will assist municipal engineers, consultants, and academic researchers with design, cost, and water quality issues. About the Editors: Richard Field has over 39 years of experience working in the environmental engineering field and is a registered professional engineer in the states of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Field has been in charge of the EPA's National Storm and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Technology Research and Development program located at the National Risk Management Research Laboratory's Edison, New Jersey location since 1970. He has over 300 peer-reviewed publications to his credit. Mr. Field has received numerous outstanding achievement awards and citations for on-the-job performance and technological contribution including two EPA Bronze Medals, the ASCE State-of-the-Art of Civil Engineering Award, two New York Water Pollution Control Association Awards for excellence in technicological advancement, and three U.S. EPA Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards. Daniel Sullivan has over 32 years experience working in the field of environmental engineering and is a registered professional engineer in the sates of New York and New Jersey. He has served as Chief of the Urban Watershed Management Branch which conducts the U.S. EPA national wet-weather flow (WWF) and watershed management research program. Mr. Sullivan began his EPA career in 1972 and has authored, co-authored, presented and/or published a combination of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications on the topics of hazardous waste control and WWF. He has received two EPA Bronze Medals for his work in the EPA's WWF research program and environmental technology verification program.