The effect of antecedent dry time on water quality inflow and outflow to wet ponds and pollutant removal efficiency
Date
2008-05
Authors
Foran, Patricia A.
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Abstract
Storm water is a significant source of pollutants in urban areas. Urbanization results in reduced water quality of surface waters due to the loss of vegetation and pervious areas, and increased impervious cover, pollutant loading, and volume and velocity of storm water runoff. The potential for flooding and increased loading of pollutants into surface waters negatively impacts drinking water supplies, outdoor recreation, wildlife, aesthetics, and local economies. To alleviate the negative effects of urbanization, municipalities utilize "best management practices" (BMPs ). A constructed wet pond is a type of BMP used to address flooding and pollutant loading. The City of Austin (COA), TX utilizes wet ponds to improve storm water quality before it is discharged into surface water. This study analyzed how antecedent storm event time affects the water quality discharged into and from wet ponds located in Austin, TX. This research study determined that longer antecedent storm event time resulted in a significant increase of influent chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate+ nitrite (N023), volatile suspended solids (VSS), and total suspended solids (TSS), and effluent TSS. Additional research is necessary to determine if the engineering requirements used by the COA, and potentially by areas with similar rainfall patterns, to construct wet pond should be revised.
Description
Keywords
runoff, water quality, ponds, organic water pollutants
Citation
Foran, P. A. (2008). The effect of antecedent dry time on water quality inflow and outflow to wet ponds and pollutant removal efficiency (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.