Paulo J. Ramísio

Assessment of Distinctive Road Runoff Quality in Coastal Areas, Based on a Monitoring Case Study

High levels of marine salt deposition present in coastal areas have a relevant effect on road runoff characteristics. This study assesses this effect with the purpose of identifying the relationships between monitored water quality parameters and intrinsic site variables. To achieve this objective, an extensive monitoring program was conducted on a Portuguese coastal highway. The study included 30 rainfall events, in different weather, traffic, and salt deposition conditions. The evaluations of various water quality parameters were carried out in over 200 samples. In addition, the meteorological, hydrological, and traffic parameters were continuously measured. The salt deposition rates were determined by means of a wet candle device, which is an innovative feature of the monitoring program. The relation between road runoff pollutants and independent variables associated with weather, traffic, and salt deposition conditions was assessed. Significant correlations among pollutants were observed. A high salinity concentration and its influence on the road runoff were confirmed. Furthermore, the concentrations of the most relevant pollutants seemed to be very dependent on some meteorological variables, particularly the duration of the antecedent dry period prior to each rainfall event and the average wind speed.

Characterization of road runoff: A case study on the A3 Portuguese Highway

Road runoff is a linear non-point source of pollution with a significant impact on water receiving bodies, but whose importance has been neglected in the past. The pollutants in road runoff can be responsible for both acute and chronicle effects.

Road runoff characteristics on costal zones – Exploratory Data Analysis based on a pilot case study

Previous studies have demonstrated that the road runoff characteristics in coastal zones show a different pollution pattern, with higher levels of salinity organic matter concentration.

An urban watershed regeneration project: The Costa/Couros river case study

During the last decades, the City of Guimaraes was subject to heavy anthropogenic pressure due to increasing urban and industrial occupation, giving rise to the visible deterioration of existing buildings and the environmental degradation of the Costa/Couros River.

A Green City: Impossible Dream or Necessity?

Two out of three Europeans live in towns and cities, and this number is (still) increasing. By attracting more inhabitants, urban areas are facing new challenges, particularly in terms of social and environmental issues. Meeting the challenges of increasing urban pressure may rest on citizens’ active involvement and cross-commitment promoted by local authorities, simultaneously exploring and respecting the social, cultural and heritage structures – the city’s identity. Some cities face more demanding challenges than others. There are other factors associated with the identity process, where the culture and history tend to be relevant indicators, especially in historic cities. Reinforcing the bonds of local identity may facilitate the citizens’ engagement in the common effort to build an environmental and sustainable city. The city of Guimaraes faces such challenges. In this context, the European Green Capital Award, which yearly distinguishes a European city based on its environmental, economics and life quality efforts, encouraging best practices sharing, corresponds to certifying a certain city management paradigm.

Evaluation of Zn, Cu and Pb Sorption-Desorption Phenomena in Kaolinite-Sand Media Filtration Pilot Scale Installation

The retention of Zn, Cu and Pb from highway runoff with reactive filter media was studied. Besides the physical retention of traditional filter beds, a reactive filter bed enhances the dissolved heavy metals retention processes due to sorption and precipitation, transferring pollutants from the dissolved form to the media matrix. A synthetic effluent was used to simulate highway runoff and, for filter bed media, sand and kaolinite were used. Results obtained for those three heavy metals show a very high reactive filter media retention capacity and a very high resistance to desorption processes.