Abstract
As efforts are made to maintain and improve the water quality in lakes and rivers, the contribution of pollutional loadings from uncontrolled sources becomes more important. A recent study (Whipple, W.J. “BOD Mass Balance and Water Quality Standards”, Water Resources Research, 6 (3), 827, 1970.) of New Jersey rivers presented results that showed that for BOD loadings within selected portions of the rivers the amounts of BOD which could be attributed to controlled sources varied from 7 to 39 percent. With such low percentages subject to control, the economics of improved water quality through advanced waste treatment must be closely examined.
In order to do this, it is necessary to have detailed information on the background pollution from uncontrolled sources. This paper is a report of a study to determine such information. Measurements of various parameters to represent the pollutional loadings were made on the storm runoff from a small urban catchment in Ottawa, Ontario. Significant levels of some of these parameters were noted. Variations in concentration were also determined throughout individual storms. This information is useful in determining the expected load from these sources and in attempting to reduce it.
Water-quality characteristics of urban storm runoff at selected sites in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, February 2006 through November 2009