Efficiency of a retention/detention basin to removecontaminants from urban stormwater

Abstract

Retention/detention basins are commonly used to remediate runoff from road surfaces in an attempt to remove contaminants before these materials enter adjacent waterways. However, the efficiency of such devices in removing contaminants is not well known, especially for Australian conditions. The efficiency of a retention/detention device adjacent to a major motorway in Sydney (Australia) was assessed for total suspended solids (TSS), a suite of trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn), nutrients (TP, TKN, NO_x, TN) and faecal coliforms. The mean removal efficiency of Cu, Pb, Mn and Zn was 23, 41, 43 and 41%, respectively, whereas the mean reduction in Cr, Fe and Ni concentrations was only 0, 3 and 1%, respectively. TSS in stormwater entering the retention/detention basin was highly variable resulting in large variations in removal efficiencies (range: −12 to 93%; mean: 40%). The mean removal efficiency of Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total nitrogen (TN) was high (56 and 28%, respectively) in contrast to total NO_x and total phosphorus (TP) (−42 and −5%, respectively). Faecal coliform was low to very low (<5000 cfu/100 ml) and removal efficiency was 16 to 68%. Possible leaching of fine terrigenous particles from the gravel bed of the retention/detention basin may have contributed to the increase in Cr, Fe and Ni concentrations in effluent stormwater.

Keywords:

• Stormwater
• Contamination
• Retention/detention
• Heavy metal
• Nutrients

Acknowledgements

The project was funded by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority and the Stormwater Trust. Staff from these organisations who assisted with the project are gratefully acknowledged.