Combining multimedia models with integrated urban water system models for micropollutants

Abstract

Integrated urban water system (IUWS) modeling aims at assessing the quality of the surface water receiving the urban emissions through sewage treatment plants, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and stormwater drainage systems. However, some micropollutants tend to appear in more than one environmental medium (air, water, sediment, soil, groundwater, etc.). In this work, a multimedia fate and transport model (MFTM) is "wrapped around" a dynamic IUWS model for organic micropollutants to enable integrated environmental assessment. The combined model was tested on a hypothetical catchment using two scenarios: on the one hand a reference scenario with a combined sewerage system and on the other hand a stormwater infiltration pond scenario, as an example of a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS). A case for Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was simulated and resulted in reduced surface water concentrations for the latter scenario. However, the model also showed that this was at the expense of increased fluxes to air, groundwater and infiltration pond soil. The latter effects are generally not included in IUWS models, whereas MTFMs usually do not consider dynamic surface water concentrations,; hence the combined model approach provides a better basis for integrated environmental assessment of micropollutants' fate in urban environments.

A review on the occurrence of micropollutants in the aquatic environment and their fate and removal during wastewater treatment

“…Although integrated urban water system (IUWS) modeling is usually used as a tool for evaluating the quality of the surface water receiving the municipal WWTP discharge combining sewer overflows and stormwater drainage systems, many micropollutants tend to distribute to more than one environmental compartment (air, water, sediment, soil, groundwater, etc.). Hence, a multimedia fate and transport model (MFTM) was proposed by De Keyser et al (2010) to meaningfully characterize the attenuation and distribution of micropollutants.…”

Dynamic Transport and Fate Models for Micro-pollutants in Integrated Urban Wastewater Systems

“…In WEST®, a multimedia fate and transport model (MFTM) is "wrapped around" a dynamic IUWS model for organic micropollutants to enable integrated environmental assessment ( Figure 2) (De Keyser et al, 2009b). The MFTM implemented in WEST® is based on the 'regional' scale of the SimpleBox model (den Hollander et al, 2003).…”

“…The latter may in this example not have a vast impact, but without the MFTM shell around the IUWS model, this effect could not have been assessed at all. More details on this study can be found in De Keyser et al (2009b). …”

Development of a Geospatial Data-Based Methodology for Stormwater Management in Urban Areas Using Freely-Available Software

“…Large urban areas have been “waterproofed” by human activities [2], increasing the risk of higher runoff volumes [3], with increased flooding and larger pollutant loads entering water bodies [4]. Runoff in urban areas is transported in the storm sewer system, and with predictions of climate change increasing rainfall intensities and extreme events, drainage systems and treatment plants are at high risk of becoming outdated [5]. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are a well-known consequence of such increased surface water flows, leading to the spread of pollution over urbanised areas [6].…”