Sources of Pollutants in Wisconsin Stormwater

Abstract

Rainfall runoff samples were collected from streets, parking lots, roofs, driveways, and lawns. These five source areas are located in residential, commercial, and industrial land uses in Madison, Wisconsin. Solids, phosphorus, and heavy metals loads were determined for all the source areas using measured concentrations and runoff volumes estimated by the Source Load and Management Model. Source areas with relatively large contaminant loads were identified as critical source areas for each land use. Streets are critical source areas for most contaminants in all the land uses. Parking lots are critical in the commercial and industrial land uses. Lawns and driveways contribute large phosphorus loads in the residential land use. Roofs produce significant zinc loads in the commercial and industrial land uses. Identification of critical source areas could reduce the amount of area needing best-management practices in two areas of Madison, Wisconsin. Targeting best-management practices to 14% of the residential area and 40% of the industrial area could significantly reduce contaminant loads by up to 75%.

Low Impact Development Practices: A Review of Current Research and Recommendations for Future Directions

“…TP and NO 3 -N concentrations in the precipitation were not reported for these two studies, thus a percent retention could not be calculated. However, in Wisconsin, TP concentrations in roof runoff from residential and commercial areas were 0.15 and 0.20 mg l −1 , respectively (Bannerman et al 1993), which is much lower than the concentrations reported for the runoff from the green roof studies cited above. Preliminary results from North Carolina are showing a similar effect: TP concentrations and mass export in runoff from a green roof were significantly higher than in precipitation, although no significant differences in concentration were reported between green roof runoff and runoff from a traditional roof (Moran et al 2004).…”

Understanding the role of land use in urban stormwater quality management

“…Secondly, the fraction of road surface within the impervious area is higher for Alextown when compared to Gumbeel. As researchers such as Bannerman et al (1993) have pointed out, street surfaces are the single most important source of urban water pollution. Secondly, the pervious area in Alextown act as a common area for the residents and maintained by the caretaker.…”

Effects of Rainfall Intensity and Duration on the First Flush from Parking Lots

“…Impervious areas (paved surfaces) reduce the opportunity for natural processes to treat stormwater. Bannerman et al [8] identified critical source areas (areas with relatively large contaminant loads) within residential, commercial and industrial land uses. In particular, streets and parking lots were found to be critical source areas for most contaminants within all land use types.…”