Systematic Evaluation of Pollutant Removal by Urban Wet Detention Ponds
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 122, Issue 11
Abstract
Three urban wet detention ponds in the Piedmont of North Carolina were monitored to investigate long-term pollutant removal as a function of surface to area ratios. Eleven storm events were monitored over a sampling period of 13 months. Urban runoff originating from the study area was characterized by event-mean concentrations for total suspended solids (135 mg/L), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (0.88 mg/L), total iron (6.11 mg/L), and total zinc (66 ug/L). Concentrations of copper and lead were consistently below the detection limits of 30 ug/L and 100 ug/L, respectively. The observed event-mean concentrations were generally lower than the national values reported by the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program. Particle sizes of sediment discharged in runoff were much finer than the national averages due to the predominant clayey soils in the region. This study demonstrates that surface to area ratio can be a useful predictor of wet pond performance. Utilizing 1–2% of the watershed area for the development of wet detention ponds at strategic locations could reduce pollutant loadings to meet targeted requirements of water quality improvement.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Division of Environmental Management (DEM). (1985). “Toxic substances in surface waters of the falls of the Neuse Lake Watershed.”Rep. No. 85–08. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Raleigh, N.C.
2.
Ferguson, B. K.(1991). “Taking advantage of stormwater control basins in urban landscapes.”J. Soil and Water Conservation, 46(2), 100–103.
3.
Holler, J. D.(1989). “Storm water detention basin nutrient removal efficiency.”J. Water Res. Plng. and Mgmt., ASCE, 115(1), 52–63.
4.
Jones, J. E.(1990). “Multipurpose stormwater detention ponds.”Public Works, 121(3), 52–53.
5.
Schueler, T. R. (1987). “Controlling urban runoff: a practical manual for planning and designing urban BMPs.” U.S. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, D.C.
6.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (1985). American Public Health Association (APHA), Washington, D.C.
7.
Stanley, D. W. (1994). “An evaluation of pollutant removal by a demonstration urban stormwater detention pond.”Rep. No. 94–07. The Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine Study, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Raleigh, N.C.
8.
Striegl, R. G.(1987). “Suspended sediment and metals removal from urban runoff by a small lake.”Water Resour. Bull., 23(4), 985–996.
9.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (1983). “Results of nationwide urban runoff program-executive summary.” Washington, D.C.
10.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (1986). “Methodology for analysis of detention basins for control of urban runoff quality.”EPA 440/5/87-001, Washington, D.C.
11.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (1977). National handbook of recommended methods for water-data acquisition . Reston, Va.
12.
U.S. Soil Conservation Service (SCS). (1983). “Computer program for project formulation: hydrology.”Tech. Release 20, Washington, D.C.
13.
Wu, C. J. (1988). “Performance of urban wet detention ponds,” MS thesis, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C.
14.
Wu, J. S., and Ahlert, R. C. (1986). “Modeling methodology for dual-function stormwater detention basins.”PB87-159711, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va.
15.
Wu, J. S. (1989). “Evaluation of detention basin performance in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina.”Rep. No. 248, North Carolina Water Resour. Res. Inst., Raleigh, N.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 122 • Issue 11 • November 1996
Pages: 983 - 988
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Nov 1, 1996
Published in print: Nov 1996
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.