J. M. Hathaway

Intra-event variability of Escherichia coli and total suspended solids in urban stormwater runoff

Sediment levels are important for environmental health risk assessments of surface water bodies, while faecal pollution can introduce significant public health risks for users of these systems. Urban stormwater is one of the largest sources of contaminants to surface waters, yet the fate and transport of these contaminants (especially those microbiological) have received little attention in the literature. Stormwater runoff from five urbanized catchments were monitored for pathogen indicator bacteria and total suspended solids in two developed countries. Multiple discrete samples were collected during each storm event, allowing an analysis of intra-event characteristics such as initial concentration, peak concentration, maximum rate of change, and relative confidence interval. The data suggest that a catchments area influences pollutant characteristics, as larger catchments have more complex stormwater infrastructure and more variable pollutant sources. The variability of total suspended solids for many characteristics was similar to Escherichia coli, indicating that the variability of E. coli may not be substantially higher than that of other pollutants as initially speculated. Further, variations in E. coli appeared to be more commonly correlated to antecedent climate, while total suspended solids were more highly correlated to rainfall/runoff characteristics. This emphasizes the importance of climate on microbial persistence and die off in urban systems. Discrete intra-event concentrations of total suspended solids and, to a lesser extent E. coli, were correlated to flow, velocity, and rainfall intensity (adjusted by time of concentrations). Concentration changes were found to be best described by adjusted rainfall intensity, as shown by other researchers. This study has resulted in an increased understanding of the magnitude of intra-event variations of total suspended solids and E. coli and what physical and climatic parameters influence these variations.

Statistical evaluation of factors affecting indicator bacteria in urban storm-water runoff.

An urban watershed in Raleigh, North Carolina, was monitored for indicator bacteria during 20 rain events. Results showed elevated levels of E. coli, enterococci, and fecal coliform. Samples were compared based on seasonality and were found to be statistically different ( p<0.05 ) , with pairwise comparisons indicating significantly lower concentrations of E. coli and fecal coliform during the winter ( p<0.05 ) . Enterococci concentrations were substantially lower in the winter and fall, but no significant differences were found between seasons during pairwise comparisons ( p<0.05 ) . Correlation analyses showed multiple significant relationships between antecedent climate parameters, flow characteristics, and indicator bacteria concentrations. More detailed multiple linear regression yielded explanatory variables related to antecedent climate conditions. Variables were generally related to temperature and moisture conditions in the atmosphere and soil. The results of this study show indicator bacteria co...

Side-by-Side Comparison of Nitrogen Species Removal for Four Types of Permeable Pavement and Standard Asphalt in Eastern North Carolina

A 1 year-old parking lot in eastern North Carolina consisting of four types of side-by-side permeable pavement and standard asphalt was monitored from January 2007 to July 2007 for water quality differences among pavement types. The four permeable sections were pervious concrete (PC), two different types of permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) with small-sized aggregate in the joints and having 12.9% (PICP1) and 8.5% (PICP2) open surface area, and concrete grid pavers (CGP) filled with sand. The site was located in poorly drained soils, and all permeable sections were underlain by a crushed stone base with a perforated pipe underdrain. Composite, flow-weighted samples of atmospheric deposition and asphalt runoff were compared to those of permeable pavement subsurface drainage for pH, TN, NO2,3 –N , TKN, NH4 –N , and ON concentrations and loads. All pavements buffered acidic rainfall pH ( p<0.01 ) . The pH of permeable pavement subsurface drainage was higher than that of asphalt runoff ( p<0.01 ...

A Traditional Analysis of the First Flush Effect for Nutrients in Stormwater Runoff from Two Small Urban Catchments

Nonpoint stormwater runoff remains a major threat to surface water quality in the USA. More effective stormwater control measures can be designed by understanding patterns in pollutant export with respect to the runoff hydrograph. In particular, nutrient concentrations in urban stormwater can cause deleterious effects in sensitive watersheds in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic USA. A year-long study captured stormwater samples from 36 storm events at two catchments (one primarily impermeable and the other substantially wooded) and analyzed for total suspended solids and various nutrient species. Using these data, the first flush effect (the assumption that the initial portion of a rainfall-runoff event is more polluted than the later portions) was evaluated based on several published methods and definitions. Based on an analysis of multiple methodologies, the ranking of first flush strength among the pollutants was total suspended solids (TSS) > ammonia (NH3) > total Kjeldahl nitrogen > NO2-NO3 > total phosphorus > orthophosphate (O-PO4). Nitrogen species generally displayed a stronger first flush than phosphorus species, with O-PO4 showing the weakest first flush effect. Various relationships ° climate, land use, and the first flush strength were also explored. Of the rainfall characteristics analyzed, total rainfall and runoff volume each inversely affected the first flush strength of TSS on the more impervious catchment. Although orthophosphate did not have a strong first flush effect, the relative first flush strength for O-PO4 increased with increasing rainfall or runoff. Land use did not influence the first flush strength of the pollutants. On average, most pollutants exhibited a slight first flush effect, but substantial pollutant loading still occurred in the latter portion of the storm’s total runoff volume. Thus, treating the majority of a storm’s total pollutant load requires capturing a commensurate fraction of runoff volume.

Evaluation of Storm-Water Wetlands in Series in Piedmont North Carolina

Three storm-water wetlands in series were monitored in a heavily urbanized 12.5 ha watershed in Mooresville, North Carolina. Monitoring of this system allowed an examination of the diminishing returns provided by three successive best management practices (BMPs) of a similar type. At least 80% of the total concentration reduction for all pollutants occurred within the first wetland cell. Only the first wetland cell significantly ( p<0.05 ) reduced all pollutants tested. No pollutant was significantly reduced from the outlet of Wetland Cell 2 to the outlet of Wetland Cell 3 ( p<0.05 ) . Median complete system (outlet of Wetland Cell 3) effluent concentrations for total suspended solids, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and turbidity were 8, 0.09, 0.73 mg/L, and 10 NTU, respectively, which compared favorably to published results. Organic nitrogen generated from wetland vegetation seemed to result in a background source of nitrogen in the wetlands, supporting the idea of an irreducible concentration for nit...

Evaluation of Various Types of Permeable Pavements with respect to Water Quality Improvement and Flood Control

In North Carolina and several other U.S. states, all permeable pavements are currently considered to have similar capabilities in reducing runoff, but are not credited with improving water quality. Previous research conducted by the North Carolina State University on one particular permeable block pavement type has shown that when compared to runoff from an adjoining asphalt lot, permeable pavement exfiltrate contained significantly lower concentrations of phosphorous and zinc, as well as reductions in total nitrogen. To further test various permeable pavement designs, a parking lot consisting of four different types of permeable pavements and standard asphalt was constructed in Kinston, NC. The permeable pavement sections consist of permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICP) with 8.5 % void space, PICP with 12.9 % void space, concrete grid pavers (CGP), and porous concrete (PC), each covering a 1200 sq. ft. area with a 10 in. gravel storage layer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of each pavement type on water quality and runoff reduction. Conclusions on the difference in reduction between each pavement type have not been determined. Site analyses on every rainfall event will be conducted beginning January, 2006 and will continue for one year. As a result of the Kinston study, it is expected that the state of North Carolina will be able to make an informed judgment on how much pollutant removal credit permeable pavements should receive when implemented as stormwater best management practices. Also, this study can be used to determine whether or not stormwater credit should vary based on pavement type.

Impact of storm-water runoff on clogging and fecal bacteria reduction in sand columns.

Storm-water runoff has been identified as a major cause of coastal water quality degradation. Storm-water outfalls, common in many coastal towns, convey bacteria and other pollutants into the ocean and estuaries. In an effort to minimize this impact, the Town of Kure Beach, North Carolina, installed Dune Infiltration Systems (DIS) at two storm-water outfalls to receive storm-water runoff and allow infiltration beneath the beach dunes. A laboratory column experiment was performed to supplement this installation and determine the potential hydraulic and bacterial removal efficiency of the sand comprising the Kure Beach dunes. Columns constructed using sand collected at different depths of the dune were used to analyze the affect of bacteria application on infiltration and to examine the changes in bacteria removal that occur as infiltration rates are affected by bacteria-laden water application. Sand columns were loaded over a 60-day period with either bacteria-free storm water or storm water spiked with Es...

Indicator Bacteria Performance of Storm Water Control Measures in Wilmington, North Carolina

Indicator bacteria are a common source of impairment in surface waters in the United States. Urban storm water runoff has been identified as a contributor to elevated indicator bacteria concentrations. Six storm water control measures (SCMs) were monitored in Wilmington, North Carolina, for E. coli and enterococci. Monitored SCMs included two storm water wet ponds, two bioretention cells, and two storm water wetlands. Sandier watersheds in Wilmington potentially lead to differences in SCM performance for indicator bacteria compared to SCMs implemented in clayey watersheds. Results showed E. coli and enterococci concentration reductions between 70 and 98% for the two wet ponds and a bioretention cell with a 60-cm-deep fill media. Other SCMs showed poor removal of indicator bacteria, in some cases negative, with storm water wetlands performing the poorest overall for the three SCM types. Further analysis showed that SCMs with high concentration reductions tended to have geometric mean effluent concentration...

Exploring Seasonality in Escherichia coli and Fecal Coliform Ratios in Urban Watersheds

AbstractAs regulators in the United States develop plans to mitigate microbial pollution via the design of total maximum daily load (TMDL) plans, historical data sets are often used to establish existing conditions for watersheds. Due to the revision of guidance recommending Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the preferred target indicator species in surface-water quality-monitoring programs, historical fecal-coliform concentration data are often used to estimate E. coli concentrations and loadings. Data from Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, suggest the ratio of E. coli to fecal coliform (EC/FC) varies significantly by season throughout the year (p<0.05). These seasonal differences are not accounted for in most translator equations, which assume a single linear relationship between E. coli and fecal coliform regardless of season. These observations imply that seasonal translator equations may more accurately reflect the relationship between fecal coliforms and E. coli, and would thus result in the developme...

Constructed Wetlands as Remediation Tools for Shallow Groundwater Contaminated by Swine Lagoon Seepage

Constructed wetlands have been implemented as treatment systems for wastewater. Wetlands may remove nutrients and sediment through biogeochemical functions such as adsorption, nitrification, denitrification, and plant uptake. Studies have shown that constructed wetlands are able to attenuate substantial amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater. Denitrification is the primary mechanism by which nitrogen is removed from wastewater in constructed wetlands. Research has shown that nitrification of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate may indirectly limit denitrification. One practice that may increase the nitrogen assimilation in a constructed wetland is the use of a nitrification pretreatment system such as a trickling filter. This study evaluated a site where a swine lagoon had leaked into the surrounding groundwater. The swine lagoon was eventually closed-out and a plan to pump out the contaminated groundwater was initiated. The water was pumped into a constructed wetland where nutrients could be removed. After three years of pumping the contaminated groundwater, a trickling filter was implemented to nitrify the wastewater before it was discharged into the wetland. Over the course of the study the constructed wetland assimilated greater than 76% of the total nitrogen and more than 22% of the total phosphorous that it received. The nitrification pretreatment system converted 20% of the NH4-N it received to NO3-N on a mass basis. Although the nitrification pretreatment system was functional, nitrogen concentrations entering the trickling filter were low and there was no identified increase in total nitrogen assimilation within the constructed wetland.