Linking Pathogen Sources to Water Quality in Small Urban Streams
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 2
Abstract
Alternative measures of terrestrial pollutant loading were investigated to identify those that are better predictors of water quality in urban streams. Results from 18 watersheds with the same climatic conditions show that the density of terrestrial fecal-coliform loading is a better indicator of median instream concentrations than total terrestrial fecal-coliform loading. Watersheds with fecal-coliform loading densities less than around generally had median instream concentrations less than the reference water-quality standard of 400 cfu/100 mL. Median instream concentrations were also less than the reference water-quality standard for population densities less than around . For any given terrestrial loading intensity or population density, summer conditions of high rainfall and high temperature generally resulted in the greatest water-quality impacts. These results are particularly useful in determining terrestrial loading reductions in support of TMDLs, and in focusing best management practices.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 2 • February 2010
Pages: 249 - 253
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 23, 2009
Accepted: Aug 13, 2009
Published online: Aug 15, 2009
Published in print: Feb 2010
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