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Typical pollutants in stormwater runoff

Treatment of stormwater runoff

Updated: July 01, 2016                                                                  

Contents:

• Unit Loadings (Nonpoint and Point sources), and Bacteriological Contamination
  • Street surface pollutants associated with various particle sizes
  • Typical distribution of dissolved and particulate runoff fractions for residential runoff
  • Common road runoff pollutants and sources
  • Mean pollutant concentrations in runoff from urban and rural highways
  • Approximate relationship between Unit Areal Loadings from Nonpoint Sources in North America
  • Unit Urban Phosphorus Export Coefficients in Dartmouth and Cole Harbour, HRM, NS
  • Selection of Phosphorus Loading Model for Nova Scotia- Phase I
    

• Toxicants found in Priority Pollutant Scans (Stormceptor)
• References

• Soils and Erosion
• Relationships with Man, Freshwater Benthic Ecology

• Narrative on water quality, and watch a video on community stewardship practices thus empowering the individual!

Unit Loadings (Nonpoint and Point sources), and Bacteriological Contamination

Some examples of the post-development pollutants are as follows:

Street Surface Pollutants associated with various particle sizes:

(USEPA, 1976 [Source: Sartor and Boyd, 1972])

Measured Pollutant	Particle size
	<43µ		43µ - 246µ		>246µ
	(% by weight)
TS	5.9		37.5		56.5
BOD5	24.3		32.5		43.2
COD	22.7		57.4		19.9
VS	25.6		34.0		40.4
Phosphates	56.2		36.0		7.8
Nitrates	31.9		45.1		23.0
Kjeldahl Nitrogen	18.7		39.8		41.5
All heavy metals		51.2		48.7
All pesticides		73		27
PCB		34		66

Typical distribution of dissolved and particulate runoff fractions for residential runoff:

(Herr and Harper [Source: Harper, H.H. 1988. Effects of Stormwater Management Systems on Groundwater Quality. Final Report for Project SM 190, submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.])

Parameter	Typical Distribution (%)
	Dissolved	Particulate
Total N	40	60
Total P	50	50
TSS	0	100
BOD	60	40
Total Cd	70	30
Total Cr	65	35
Total Cu	70	30
Total Ni	70	30
Total Pb	25	75
Total Zn	35	65

Common road runoff pollutants and sources:

(Drapper et al [Source: Kobringer, N.P. 1984. Volume I. Sources and Migration of Highway Runoff Pollutants- Executive Summary. FHWA/RD-84/057. Federal Highway Administration, Rexnord, EnviroEnergy Technology Center, Milwaukee, WI])

^* No mineral asbestos has been identified in runoff, however some breakdown products of asbestos have been measured

Constituent	Primary Sources
Particulates	Pavement wear, vehicles, atmosphere, maintenance, snow/ice abrasives, sediment disturbance
Nitrogen, Phosphorus	Atmosphere, roadside fertiliser use, sediments
Lead	Leaded gasoline, tire wear, lubricating oil and grease, bearing wear, atmospheric fallout
Zinc	Tire wear, motor oil, grease
Iron	Auto body rust, steel highway structures, engine parts
Copper	Metal plating, bearing wear, engine parts, brake lining wear, fungicides and insecticides use
Cadmium	Tire wear, insecticide application
Chromium	Metal plating, engine parts, brake lining wear
Nickel	Diesel fuel and gasoline, lubricating oil, metal plating, brake lining wear, asphalt paving
Manganese	Engine parts
Bromide	Exhaust
Cyanide	Anticake compound used to keep deicing salt granular
Sodium, Calcium	De-icing slats, grease
Chloride	De-icing salts
Sulphate	Roadway beds, fuel, de-icing salts
Petroleum	Spills, leaks, blow-by motor lubricants, antifreeze, hydraulic fluids, asphalt surface leachate
PCBs, pesticides	Spraying of highway right of ways, atmospheric deposition, PCB catalyst in synthetic tires
Pathogenic bacteria	Soil litter, bird droppings, trucks hauling livestock/stockyard waste
Rubber	Tire wear
Asbestos*	Clutch and brake lining wear

Mean pollutant concentrations (µg/l) in runoff from urban and rural highways:

(Drapper et al [Source: Driscoll, E., Shelley, P.E., and Strecker, E.W. 1990. Pollutant Loadings and Impacts from Highway Stormwater Runoff. Volumes I-IV. FHWA/RD-88-006-9, Federal Highway Administration, Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Oakland, CA])

Pollutant	Urban (ADT> 30,000)	Rural (ADT< 30,000)
	(µg/l)	(µg/l)
TSS (Total Suspended Solids)	142,000	41,000
VSS (Volatile Suspended Solids)	39,000	12,000
TOC (Total Organic Carbon)	25,000	8,000
COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)	114,000	49,000
NO3/NO2 (Nitrate + Nitrite)	760	570
TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen)	1,830	870
Phosphorus as PO4	400	160
Cu (Total Copper)	54	22
Pb (Total Lead)	400	80
Zn (Total Zinc)	329	80

Approximate relationship between Unit Areal Loadings from Nonpoint Sources in North America:

Approximate relationship between Unit Areal Loadings from Nonpoint Sources (USEPA, 1976)

	Average (Kg/ha/yr)				Range (Kg/ha/yr)
	TN	TP	TSS		TN	TP	TSS
Forest	2.5	0.2	250		1-10	0.005-1	40-400
Range/Pasture	5	0.3	400		2-10	0.2-0.6	10-1,000
Cropland	10	0.6	1,600		1-40	0.03-0.7	300-4,000
Urban	5	0.8	2,000		2-20	0.25-5	200-5,000
Feedlots	1,000	250	---		700-1,500	100-400	---
Precipitation	10	0.25	---		1-100	0.05-1	---
Lake Sediments    Aerobic Conditions    Anaerobic Conditions	--- ---	20 150	--- ---		--- ---	5-40 100-200	--- ---

Unit Urban Phosphorus Export Coefficients in Dartmouth and Cole Harbour, HRM, NS:

Unit Urban Phosphorus Export Coefficients (kg/ha.yr) (Vokey, 1998)

Local watershed	Storm sewer catchment area (ha)	TP Export Coefficient (kg/ha.yr)
Settle Lake	7.3	0.53
Bissett Lake	57.6	0.57

Toxicants found in Priority Pollutant Scans

Key:

* = Found in water column also                                             (G) = Observed predominantly in gas station sampling

** = Observed only in water column samples                                     (NG) = Observed predominantly in non-gas station sampling

(S) = Suspected (a result of gas                                              (AS) = Observed in both sampling
                chromatography testing)                                                        

Potential Toxicant			Typical Use	Probable Pathway to Oil-Grit Separator (OGS)
--------------------  Sediment Samples  --------------------
Semi-volatile Organics
Naphthalene*	Component of gasoline, fossil fuel.					Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Atmospheric deposition of the vapours, Gasoline spillage, crankcase motor oil drippings. (G)
2-Methylnaphthalene*	“              “					“              “
Acenapthene	“              “					“              “
Fluorene	“              “					“              “
Phenanthrene	“              “					“              “
Pyrene	“              “					“              “
Chrysene*	“              “					“              “
Benzo (b) fluoranthene	“              “					“              “
Indeno (123-cd) pyrene	“              “					“              “
Benzo (g,h,i) perylene	“              “					“              “
Di-nbutyl phthalate	Plasticizer- component of plastics, polymeric substances.					Leaches from plastic products such as garden hoses, floor tiles, plastic containers and food packaging. (NG) May leach into motor oils and other automotive fluids from their plastic containers. (G) Motor oil is a suspected source of compound of OGS. (AS)
Butylbenzyl phthalate	“              “					“              “
Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate*	“              “					“              “
Di-n-cotyle-phthalate	“              “					“              “
Volatile Organics
Toluene*	Used as solvent and in chemical synthesis.					Improper disposal of industrial waste. Atmospheric deposition of vapours resulting from incomplete combustion of fuels. (AS)
Ethylbenzene*	Intermediate in chemical synthesis, solvent component of antifreeze.					Antifreeze spillings. (AS)
Total Xylenes*	“              “					“              “
Methylene Chloride	Used as refrigerant. Component of PVC.					Improper disposal of industrial waste. Refrigerant leakage. (S) Car air conditioners, coolants. (S)
Pesticides/PCBs
Aldrin	Pesticide					Used in farming, gardening and landscaping.
4,4-DDT	Pesticide					“              “
Metals
Antimony	Component of lead alloys, rubber, matches, ceramics, enamel, paints, lacquers and textiles.					Leaches from painted and rubber waste articles. Household and industrial waste erosion from rocks and soils. (G)
Arsenic*	Component of fossil fuel, insecticide, food preservatives. Used in treatment of leukemia and as a tonic.					Product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and incomplete atmospheric deposition of vapours. (AS)
Beryllium*	Used to manufacture non-sparking alloys for tools, nuclear reactors and lightweight alloys.					Erosion from rocks and soils. (AS)
Cadmium*	Used in manufacture of batteries, paints and plastics. Used to plate iron products such as nuts and bolts for corrosion prevention.					Waste from plating processes. Motor vehicle exhaust. Leached from galvanized copper and plastic pipes. (G)
Chromium*	Used to make alloys, catalysts and refractories. Used in plating processes. Used in paints, leather tanning, plastics.					Improper disposal of industrial waste. Corrosion of alloys and plated surfaces. (AS) Spillage of brake fluid.
Copper*	Used as alloy component. Sulphate salt used as algicide in water supply reservoirs. Component of fungicide. Used in electroplating industry. Found in coolant, brake fluid, motor oil, gasoline.					Corrosion of copper pipes and fittings. Improper disposal of waste from industry. Algicide. (AS) Spillage of listed automobile products.
Lead*	Used as an additive to gasoline, motor oil, brake fluid and coolant. Component of pipes, paints and dyes. Used in manufacture of batteries, insecticide.					Atmospheric deposition of motor vehicle exhaust. Gasoline, motor oil, brake fluid and coolant leakage. Leaching from paints, stains, plastics. Improper disposal of batteries and insecticides.
Nickel	Used in electroplating, food processing (gelatin, baking powder). Present in gasoline, transmission fluid, motor oil, brake fluid, coolants.					Wastewater from electroplating operations. Product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and atmospheric deposition. Gasoline leakage, coolant, motor oil and brake fluid spillage. (AS)
Silver	Used in electroplating industry. Silver halides are used in photography. Component of germicide, antiseptic and astringent. Found in diesel fuel.					Improper disposal of industrial waste. (AS)
Zinc*	Used in electroplating industry. Component of bronze, rubber, enamel, glass and paper. Component of automobile tires, road salt and paint.					Wastewater from electroplating operations. Weathering and abrasion of galvanized iron and steel. Leaching from road salt, automobile tires. (AS)
Cyanide/Phenols
Phenol*		Product of plating operations. Anticaking ingredient in road salts. Intermediate in production resins.			Waste from coal coking and refinery operations. Leaching from road salt. (AS)
--------------------  Water Column Samples**  --------------------
Semi-volatile Organics
Benzyl alcohol		Component of gasoline, fossil fuel.			Incomplete combustion of fossil fuel and atmospheric deposition of vapours. (G)
2-Methylphenol		“              “			“              “
3-4-Methylphenol		“              “			“              “
2,4-Demithylphenol		“              “			“              “
Volatile Organics
Acetone		Used as gasoline additive. Solvent for paints, resins, lacquers and plastics.			Leaching of paints and plastics. Automobile product, motor oil leakage.
2-Butanone		“              “			“              “
Benzene		“              “			“              “

Key:

* = Found in water column also                                        (G) = Observed predominantly in                                                                                                                                      gas station sampling

** = Observed only in water column                                (NG) = Observed predominantly in
                samples                                                                  non-gas station sampling

(S) = Suspected (a result of gas                                         (AS) = Observed in both sampling
                chromatography testing)   

References

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• Bland, J.K. 1996. A gaggle of geese ... or maybe a glut. In LakeLine, North Am. Lake Manage. Soc. 16(1):10-11,45-47.

• Brown, R.G. 1985. Effects of an urban wetland on sediment and nutrient loads in runoff. In Wetlands. 4: 147-158.

• Dillon, P.J., and Molot, L.A. 1996. Long-term phosphorus budgets and an examination of the steady state mass balance model for central Ontario lakes. Wat. Res. 30:2273-2280.

• Drapper, D., Tomlinson, R., and Williams, P. An Investigation of the Quality of Stormwater Runoff From Road Pavements; A South-East Queensland Case Study. School of Environmental Engineering, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Queensland, Australia. 8p.
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• Herr, J.L., and Harper, H.H. Removal of Gross Pollutants From Stormwater Runoff Using Liquid/Solid Separation Structures. Environmental Research & Design, Inc., Orlando, FL. 14p.
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• Hutchinson, N.J., Neary, B.P., and Dillon, P.J. 1991. Validation and use of Ontario's Trophic Status Model for establishing lake development guidelines. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 7(1): 13-23.

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• Soil & Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax. 1999. Synopsis-3: Unit Loadings (Nonpoint and Point sources), and Bacteriological Contamination.

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