Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization and prediction of stormwater runoff quality in sub-tropical rural catchments

  • Water Quality and Protection: Environmental Aspects
  • Published:
Water Resources Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Due to scarcity of local data on stormwater pollution levels and rainfall-runoff generation process, very few attempts have been made towards the management of stormwater in sub-tropical rural catchments. An attempt has been made in the present study to characterize and predict the stormwater runoff characteristics using regression modeling from five rural catchments in north-west India. Stormwater samples and flow data were collected from 75 storm events. Samples were analyzed for pH, total suspended solids (TSS), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorous (TP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO -3 –N), total coliform count (TC), fecal coliform count (FC), Zn, Cu and Fe. It was found that size of the catchment and the land use practices influenced the stormwater quality even in predominantly rural areas, otherwise thought to be homogeneous. The results obtained were related with the antecedent dry days (ADD) and average rainfall. ADD was found to be positively correlated with pollutant loads whereas average rainfall showed negative correlation. The study highlights the importance of ADD in causing greater mean pollutant concentrations except for TKN, TP and NO -3 –N. Regression models were developed for the studied catchments to estimate mean pollutant concentrations as a function of rainfall variables. Results revealed that measured pollutant concentrations demonstrated high variability with ADD and average rainfall in small rural catchments, whereas in large catchments, factors like land use, extent of imperviousness etc. resulted in low predictability of measured parameters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arora, A.S. and Reddy, A.S., Development of multiple linear regression models for predicting the stormwater quality of urban sub-watersheds, Bull. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol., 2014, vol. 92, no. 1, pp. 36–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Brezonik, P.L. and Stadelmann, T.H., Analysis and predictive models of stormwater runoff volumes, loads, and pollutant concentrations from watersheds in the twin cities metropolitan area, Minnesota, USA, Water Resour., 2002, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 1743–1757.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chen, H.J. and Chang, H., Response of discharge, TSS, and E. coli to rainfall events in urban, suburban, and rural watersheds, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2014, vol. 16, pp. 2313–2324.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chow, M.F. and Yusop, Z., Characterization and source identification of stormwater runoff in tropical urban catchments, Wat. Sci. Technol., 2014, vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 244–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chow, M.F., Yusop, Z., and Shirazi, S.M., Storm runoff quality and pollutant loading from commercial, residential, and industrial catchments in the tropic, Environ. Monit. Assess., 2013, vol. 185, no. 10, pp. 8321–8331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Davis, B.S. and Birch, G.F., Catchment-wide assessment of the cost-effectiveness of stormwater remediation measures in urban areas, Environ. Sci. Policy, 2009, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 84–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Driver, N.E. and Troutman, B.M., Regression models for estimating urban storm-runoff quality and quantity in the United States, J. Hydrol., 1989, vol. 109, nos. 3–4, pp. 221–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gan, H.Y., Zhuo, M.N., Li, D.Q., and Zhou, Y.Z., Quality characterization and impact assessment of highway runoff in urban and rural area of Guangzhou, China, Environ. Monit. Assess., 2008, vol. 140, nos. 1–3, pp.147–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Graves, G., Wan, Y., and Fike, L., Water quality characteristics of stormwater from major land uses in South Florida, J. Am. Wat. Res. Assoc., 2004, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 1405–1419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Guidance manual: Stormwater Monitoring Protocols, California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), Report No. CTSW-RT-00-005, 2000.

  11. Ha, S.J. and Stenstrom, M.K., Predictive modeling of storm-water runoff quantity and quality for a large urban watershed, J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 2008, vol. 134, no. 9, pp. 703–711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hamilton, J.L. and Luffman, I., Precipitation, pathogens, and turbidity trends in the little river, Tennessee, Phys. Geogr., 2009, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 236–248.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Han, Y.H., Lau, S.L., Kayhanian, M., and Stenstrom, M.K., Characteristics of highway stormwater runoff, Wat. Environ. Res., 2006, vol. 78, no. 12, pp. 2377–2388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Irish, L.B., Barrett, M.E., Malina, J.F., and Charbeneau, R.J., Use of regression models for analyzing highway storm-water loads, J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 1998, vol. 124, no. 10, pp. 987–993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kafi, M., Gasperi, J., Moilleron, R., Gromaire, M.C., and Chebbo, G., Spatial variability of the characteristics of combined wet weather pollutant loads in Paris, Water Resour., 2008, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 539–549.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kayhanian, M., Suverkropp, C., Ruby, A., and Tsay, K., Characterization and prediction of highway runoff constituent event mean concentration. J. Environ. Manag., 2007, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. 279–295.

  17. Khan, S., Lau, S.L., Kayhanian, M., and Stenstrom, M.K., Oil and grease measurement in highway runoff-sampling time and event mean concentrations, J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 2006, vol. 132, no. 3, pp. 415–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kim, L.H., Kayhanian, M., Lau, S.L., and Stenstrom, M.K., A new modelling approach in estimating first flush metal mass loading, Wat. Sci. Technol., 2005, vol. 51, nos. 3–4, pp. 159–167.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Legret, M. and Pagotto, C., Evaluation of pollutant loadings in the runoff waters from a major rural highway, Sci. Total Environ., 1999, vol. 235, nos. 1–3, pp. 143–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ma, J.S., Characteristics of pollutants in highway runoff: regression, representativeness, and first flush, Ph.D. Thesis, Los Angeles: University of California, 2002, p. 195.

  21. Ma, J.S., Kang, J.H., Kayhanian, M., and Stenstrom, M.K., Sampling issues in urban runoff monitoring programs: Composite versus grab, J. Environ. Eng., ASCE, 2009, vol. 135, no. 3, pp. 118–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Madarang, K.J. and Kang, J.H., Evaluation of accuracy of linear regression models in predicting urban stormwater discharge characteristics, J. Environ. Sci., 2014, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 1313–1320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mallin, M.A., Johnson, V.L., and Ensign, S.H., Comparative impacts of stormwater runoff on water quality of an urban, a suburban and a rural stream, Environ. Monit. Assess., 2009, vol. 159, nos. 1–4, pp. 475–491.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Maniquiz, M.C., Lee, S., and Kim, L.H., Multiple linear regression models of urban runoff pollutant load and event mean concentration considering rainfall variables, J. Environ. Sci., 2010, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 946–952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Passeport, E. and Hunt, W., Asphalt parking lot runoff nutrient characterization for eight sites in North Carolina, USA, J. Hydrol. Eng., ASCE, 2009, vol. 14, special issue: Impervious Surfaces in Hydrologic Modeling and Monitoring, pp. 352–361.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Qin, H.P., Khu, S.T., and Yu, X.Y., Spatial variations of storm runoff pollution and their correlation with landuse in a rapidly urbanizing catchment in China, Sci. Total Environ., 2010, vol. 408, no. 20, pp. 4613–4623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Smullen, J.T., Shallcross, A.L., and Cave, K.A., the U.S. nationwide urban runoff quality date base, Wat. Sci. Technol., 1999, vol. 39, no. 12, pp. 9–16.

  28. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 21st ed., Washington, D.C.: Am. Public Health Association, Am. Water Works Association, Water Environ. Federation, 2005.

  29. Taebi, A. and Droste, R.L., Pollution loads in urban runoff and sanitary wastewater, Sci. Total Environ., 2004, vol. 327, nos. 1–3, pp. 175–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang, S., He, Q., Ai, H., Wang, Z., and Zhang, Q., Pollutant concentrations and pollution loads in stormwater runoff from different land uses in Chongqing, J. Environ. Sci., 2013, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 502–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Zgheib, S., Moilleron, R., Saad, M., and Chebbo, G., Partition of pollution between dissolved and particulate phases: what about emerging substances in urban stormwater catchments?, Water Resour., 2011, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 913–925.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141006, India

    Puneet Pal Singh Cheema & Sukhpreet Kaur

  2. School of Energy and Environment, Thapar University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 147001, India

    Akepati S. Reddy

Authors
  1. Puneet Pal Singh Cheema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akepati S. Reddy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sukhpreet Kaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Puneet Pal Singh Cheema.

Additional information

The article is published in the original.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheema, P.P.S., Reddy, A.S. & Kaur, S. Characterization and prediction of stormwater runoff quality in sub-tropical rural catchments. Water Resour 44, 331–341 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807817020129

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807817020129

Keywords

Search

Navigation