Assessment of water quality of first-flush roof runoff and harvested rainwater

2012 ◽  
Vol 466-467 ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios D. Gikas ◽  
Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Roof Runoff

First flush effects in an urban catchment area in Aalborg

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 251-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torben Larsen ◽  
Kirsten Broch ◽  
Margit Riis Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Urban Catchment ◽  
Discharge Measurements ◽  
Quality Measurements

The paper describes the results of measurements from a 2 year period on a 95 hectare urban catchment in Aalborg, Denmark. The results of the rain/discharge measurements include 160 storm events corresponding to an accumulated rain depth of totally 753 mm. The water quality measurements include 15 events with time series of concentration of SS, COD, BOD, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. The quality parameters showed significant first flush effects. The paper discusses whether either the event average concentration or the accumulated event mass is the most appropriate way to characterize the quality of the outflow.

Water quality of first flush runoff from 20 industrial sites

1997 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Line ◽  
J. Wu ◽  
J. A. Arnold ◽  
G. D. Jennings ◽  
A. R. Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Industrial Sites

Analysis of first flush to improve the water quality in rainwater tanks

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kus ◽  
J. Kandasamy ◽  
S. Vigneswaran ◽  
H. K. Shon
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Rain Water ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Roof Runoff ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Rainwater Tanks

Although most Australians receive their domestic supply from reticulated mains or town water, there are vast areas with very low population densities and few reticulated supplies. In many of these areas rainwater collected in tanks is the primary source of drinking water. Heavy metals have recently become a concern as their concentration in rain water tanks was found to exceed recommended levels suitable for human consumption. Rainwater storage tanks also accumulate contaminants and sediments that settle to the bottom. Although not widely acknowledged, small amounts of contaminants such as lead found in rain water (used as drinking water) may have a cumulative and poisonous effect on human health over a life time. This is true for certain factors that underlie many of the chronic illnesses that are becoming increasingly common in contemporary society. The paper reports on a study which is part of a project that aims to develop a cost effective in-line filtration system to improve water quality in rainwater tanks. To enable this, the characteristics of rainwater need to be known. One component of this characterization is to observe the effects of the first flush on a rainwater tank. Samples of the roof runoff collected from an urban residential roof located in the Sydney Metropolitan Area in the initial first few millimetres of rain were analysed. The results show that bypassing the first 2 mm of rainfall gives water with most water quality parameters compliant with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) standards. The parameters that did not comply were lead and turbidity, which required bypassing approximately the first 5 mm of rainfall to meet ADWG standards. Molecular weight distribution (MWD) analysis showed that the concentration of rainwater organic matter (RWOM) decreased with increasing amount of roof runoff.

Quality of stormwater runoff from paved surfaces of two production sites

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Gnecco ◽  
C. Berretta ◽  
L.G. Lanza ◽  
P. La Barbera
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Standard Values ◽  
Climatic Characteristics ◽  
Dissolved Form

In order to investigate stormwater pollutant loads associated with different anthropic activities and the related pollutant build-up and wash-off processes, two pilot sites have been equipped in the Liguria Region (Italy) for monitoring first flush water quality in a gas station and an auto dismantler facility. TSS, COD, HCtot and heavy metals in dissolved form (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, Cr) have been analyzed during the monitoring campaign (started in February 2004). Stormwater flow and quality data collected in both production sites confirm that EMC values are significantly higher than those observed in an urban site. In the auto dismantler site, the EMC values for TSS, COD and HC largely exceed the standard values (EC 91/271). Contrary to urban surface runoff, scarce correlation between TSS and COD concentrations is observed in runoff from both production sites. The occurrence and nature of the pollutant load connected to first flush flows is discussed by inspection of the M(V)-curves that are provided for all monitored water quality parameters. Significant first flush phenomenon is evidenced for TSS and HC, while such clear behavior doesn't emerge for heavy metals. Hydrologic and climatic characteristics (ADWP, rainfall intensity/depth) appear to scarcely affect the build-up and wash-off processes.

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