Urban Stormwater Bmp Performance Monitoring

"Presents and compares all major stormwater/runoff control strategies ; New data on pollutant removal efficiencies, design, costs, environmental impacts and more ; Where and why to use the best techniques for limiting/monitoring diffuse pollution ; Provides the tools to meet regulations and improve water quality in urban/suburban watersheds"--From publisher's description.

Over the past 20 years, the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the United States has been instrumental in reducing both the detrimental impacts to receiving water quality and the exacerbated flooding caused by urbanization and storm water drainage. More recently, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) have started to be used in the United Kingdom. Both SUDS and BMPs attempt to mimic the drainage patterns of the natural watershed, and can also provide a degree of treatment needed to improve the quality of the water discharged to an acceptable level. The costs of conventional stormwater collection systems are determined primarily in terms of initial capital expenditure. Long-term maintenance costs are absorbed by stormwater authorities that are responsible for maintaining their infrastructure as part of their "asset base". Currently, only a few of these responsibilities exist for BMPs and SUDS, which generally incorporate surface components and are often dependent on landscaping rather than on traditional construction techniques, but may require significant regular maintenance. Any potential adopting organization will require guidance on the maintenance regimes of different types of systems and how such regimes translate into long-term adoption costs. The project is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1, which is the subject of this report, includes a literature review and a survey of stormwater authorities and organizations in the US and UK to identify the most commonly used BMPs and SUDS and to determine the availability of data on their cost and performance. As part of Phase 2, the operation of selected BMPs and SUDS will be monitored over a one-year period in terms of pollutant removal and hydrologic/hydraulic efficiency, and applicability of their design criteria and maintenance regime. The protocols developed in Phase 1 will be used to assess BMPs/SUDS performance and whole-life costs.

This guide examines permanent structural techniques, or Best Management Practices (BMPs), which can be used for retrofitting the stormwater management systems in existing developed areas. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are explained to help engineering professionals select the BMP (or series of BMPs) best suited for removing pollutants from stormwater runoff at a particular location. The design factors considered include land availability, type of pollutant to be removed, groundwater levels, soil types, BMP costs, maintenance costs, and desired pollutant removal efficiency. The BMPs evaluated are ponds, alum treatment systems, constructed wetlands, sand filters, baffle boxes, inlet devices, vegetated swales, buffer strips, and infiltration/exfiltration trenches. A BMP Selection Guide, in an easy-to-use matrix format, aids in the decision-making process for BMP selections. Five design factors and five pollutant types (total suspended solids, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, heavy metals, and floating trash) are evaluated for each BMP in the matrix. BMPs presented in this guide were chosen based upon common availability, ease of maintenance, and an established track record.

Introduction -- Department of Transportation research preferences -- Review of published literature and potential research needs -- Summary of identified research gaps and needs -- Master bibliography -- Appendixes.

This collection contains 49 papers presented at an Engineering Foundation Conference, held in Snowmass Village, Colorado, August 19-24, 2001.

This manual, a revision of the Water Environment Federation's (WEF's) and the American Society of Civil Engineer's (ASCE's) manual of practice (MOP) titled Urban Runoff Quality Management (1998), takes a holistic view and espouses the concept that systems of stormwater controls can be designed to meet the various objectives of stormwater management, including flood control; stream channel protection; groundwater recharge; water quality improvement; protection of public safety, health, and welfare; and multipurpose public benefits such as the provision of open space, parks, playgrounds, trails, wildlife habitat, and enhancement of property values. This MOP focuses on consolidating technologies under a comprehensive view of stormwater management in an attempt to foster convergence between traditional stormwater controls and green infrastructure. Developed by WEF and ASCE.