CHARACTERIZATION OF ROADWAY RUNOFF PRIOR TO TREATMENT

Proper design of roadway runoff treatment systems requires the knowledge of the pollutants present, peak concentrations, volumetric mass loading and seasonal variations. Three sampling locations in the State of Rhode Island having different Average Daily Traffic (ADT) values, drainage areas and land uses were selected to characterize roadway runoff. A total of six rain storms, including two winter and four non-winter storms were sampled. The collected water samples were analyzed for suspended solids, metals, nutrients, and organic and inorganic chemicals. Both natural (leaf fall) and anthropogenic (application of deicing agents) seasonal characteristics were found to be factors affecting the concentration and loads of calcium, chloride, nitrate, sodium and total organic carbon (TOC). A first flush period during which the contaminants and mass loadings are present in high concentrations was observed at all of the sites for most of the contaminants. The range of ADT values selected for this study did not affect the magnitude of the pollutant concentrations and loads. Land use and seasonal characteristics appeared to have the most impact on the magnitude of mass loadings from roadway runoff.

• Record URL:
  • https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/22000/22000/22023/PB99155350.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Rhode Island, Kingston

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Kingston, RI  United States  02881

  Rhode Island Department of Transportation

  State Office Building, 2 Capitol Hill
  Providence, RI  United States  02903

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Thiem, L T
  • Alkhatib, E A
  • Bade, S K
  • Panganamamula, A
• Publication Date: 1998-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 108 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Average daily traffic; Calcium; Chlorides; Inorganic compounds; Land use; Metals; Nitrates; Organic compounds; Pollutants; Rainfall; Runoff; Samples; Seasons; Sodium; Storms; Suspended sediments
• Geographic Terms: Rhode Island
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00764790
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RI-RD-98-01,, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: SPR-223-2223
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 24 1999 12:00AM