Characterizing Runoff from Roads: Particle Size Distributions, Nutrients, and Gross Solids
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 1
Abstract
Particulate matter, nutrients, and gross solids from roads contribute nonpoint-source pollution to waterways. To inform road runoff management, a field monitoring study was undertaken at eight road sites across North Carolina. Particle size distributions (PSD) of edge-of-pavement runoff samples were analyzed to understand the granulometry of the particulate matter. Knowledge of PSDs is critical when attempting to understand sediment fate and transport through stormwater control measures (SCMs), especially when the primary removal mechanism is particle settling. For 43 road runoff events, median particle size varied from 31 to 144 μm. The median PSD from hot mix asphalt (HMA) was 2.6% clay, 44.8% silt, and 52.6% sand. PSD was not correlated to roadway classification or ecoregion; however, PSD was significantly correlated to the presence of a permeable friction course (PFC) overlay, which is a layer of porous asphalt placed over traditional HMA. The median for PFC (131 μm) was significantly smaller than for HMA (428 μm), with 11.5% less sand fraction present in the PFC runoff. Smaller particles emitted from PSD will diminish performance for downslope highway SCMs, including swales and filter strips. PFC also emitted lower median effluent total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations () than HMA (). Gross solids may represent a substantial portion of the total nutrient load from roads, but they are often entirely overlooked. Dry mass of leaf litter from roads in North Carolina was correlated to rainfall depth and peak rainfall intensity. Total nitrogen (TN) loads from gross solids varied from 0.2 to , while total phosphorus (TP) loads ranged between 0.03 and , approximately one order of magnitude less than reported TN and TP nutrient loads in stormwater runoff. Given the typical fraction of TN and TP leaching into stormwater as leaves and organic matter break down, gross solids represented about 0.6% of TN and 3.6% of TP yearly nutrient loading for the evaluated highway sites, suggesting gross solids were a relatively inconsequential portion of the total nutrient load from roads.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the North Carolina Department of Transportation for funding this research and for their aid in selecting the field research sites. The NCSU Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology and Biogeochemistry laboratories processed water quality and PSD samples. The North Carolina State Agriculture and Consumer Services Division Waste Analysis Laboratory processed the gross solids samples. We appreciate the work of Shawn Kennedy, Wes Kimbrell, and Minell Enslin of NCSU Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering in field site instrumentation and sampling. Finally, we appreciate the thoughtful review of this manuscript provided by Andrew McDaniel and Matt Lauffer of NCDOT and Karthik Narayanaswamy of the URS Corporation.
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Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 1 • January 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 17, 2015
Accepted: Apr 18, 2016
Published online: Jul 19, 2016
Discussion open until: Dec 19, 2016
Published in print: Jan 1, 2017
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