Stormwater Pollution Monitoring

Protect water quality from urban runoff.

Forecast discharge events and the potential impact on water quality

Stormwater runoff in urban catchment areas can affect the quality of surface waters. Pollutants, particularly around industrial areas with highly impervious surfaces, can have a substantial influence on the water quality of water bodies and threaten aquatic organisms.

Additionally, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) from storm events can result in raw sewage being discharged to waterways; surface water drainage and sewage collection share infrastructure and become overwhelmed.

ADASA has developed an online water quality monitoring system for inland streams that detects sediment and contaminants washed into streams by stormwater. These send alerts to operators when there are high levels of nutrients and bacteria in the water.

Sensors can withstand hostile environments. Monitoring is automatic and constant, sending uninterrupted data about water quality parameters such as: pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrates and phosphates. Software and smart technology allow for remote control and management of data, with a choice of permanent or temporary measuring campaigns (for mobile stations).

We make use of dynamic rainfall-runoff simulation models like the EPA Storm Water Management Model for single event or long-term simulation of runoff quantity and quality from urban areas. The runoff component of these models operates on a collection of subcatchment areas that receive precipitation and generate runoff and pollutant loads. The routing portion of models transports this runoff through a system of pipes, channels, storage/treatment devices, pumps, and regulators. Simulation models allow tracking the quantity and quality of runoff generated within each subcatchment, and the flow rate, flow depth, and quality of water in each pipe and channel during a simulation period comprised of multiple time steps.

Smart sensors continuously monitor nutrient loads running off urban catchments. This, combined with water modelling, allows for the forecasting of the frequency and severity of likely discharge events, and gauging the potential impact on water quality of the surrounding river, lake and coastal areas.

Benefits

Determine stormwater outflow effect on surface water quality from different land use catchment areas.
Help authorities to identify pollution sources.
Assess drainage infrastructure.
Predict water quality based on real-time rainfall data.
Support the maintenance of high levels of public health.
Allow comprehensive and accurate health risk assessments.
Deduce how urban stormwater can be utilised for a broader range of end-uses, e.g. potable and non-potable.