AN EVALUATION OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF HIGHWAY RUNOFF IN THE AUSTIN, TEXAS, AREA

The two primary goals of this portion of the research project were (1) to identify the variables that affect the build-up and wash-off of constituents from highways in the Austin, Texas, area, and (2) to develop a water quality model that incorporated these variables. This project marked the first scientific use of a rainfall simulator in conjunction with active traffic. Twenty-one variables were identified for each storm event, and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship of each variable to the quality of the highway runoff. The majority of variations observed in highway stormwater loading in the Austin area may be explained by causal variables measured during the rainstorm event, the antecedent dry period, and the previous rainstorm event. An examination of the controlling variables in each model added insight into the applicability of the model and the mitigation of constituent loading. Highway runoff constituents, in general, fall into one of three categories: (1) those constituents, such as suspended solids, that are influenced by conditions during the dry period and that may be mitigated by dry period activities (e.g., by street sweeping); (2) those constituents that are most influenced by conditions during the rainfall event and may only be mitigated through the use of runoff controls; and (3) those constituents that are influenced equally by both periods. The constituents that are significantly affected by conditions during the preceding storm event generally are those constituents that are controlled by the dry period variables.

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/digitized/texasarchive/phase2/1943-5.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Water Quantity and Quality Impacts Assessment of Highway Construction in the Austin, Texas, Area.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Transfer Office, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5051
• Authors:
  • Irish, L B
  • Lesso, W G
  • Barrett, M E
  • Malina Jr, J F
  • Charbeneau, R J
  • Ward, G H
• Publication Date: 1996-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 246 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer models; Drainage; Multiple regression analysis; Rain; Runoff; Simulation; Suspended sediments; Traffic mitigation; Water pollution; Water quality
• Uncontrolled Terms: Mitigation
• Geographic Terms: Austin (Texas)
• Old TRIS Terms: Multiple regression
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00734610
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TX-96/1943-5, Res Rept 1943-5, CTR 7-1943-5 Interim Rept
• Contract Numbers: Study 7-1943
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 18 1997 12:00AM