First flush of storm runoff pollution from an urban catchment in China

• Published in: 环境科学学报（英文版） Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 295 - 299
• Main Authors: LI Li-qing, YIN Cheng-qing, HE Qing-ci, KONG Ling-li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry,Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100085,China%Wuhan Research Institute of Environmental Science,Wuhan 430015,China 2007
• Subjects: urban area; runoff; first flush; stormwater pollution; rainfall pattern
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-0742.2007.03.007

X1; Storm runoff pollution process was investigated in an urban catchment with an area of 1.3 km2 in Wuhan City of China.The results indicate that the pollutant concentration peaks preceded the flow peaks in all of 8 monitored storm events.The intervals between pollution peak and flow peak were shorter in the rain events with higher intensity in the initial period than those with lower intensity.The fractions of pollution load transported by the first 30%of runoff volume(FF30)were 52.2%-72.1%for total suspended solids(TSS).53.0%-65.3%for chemical oxygen demand(COD),40.4%-50.6%for total nitrogen(TN),and 45.8%-63.2%for total phosphorus(TP),respectively.Runoff pollution was positively related to non-raining days before the rainfall.Intercepting the first 30%of runoff volume can remove 62.4% of TSS load.59.4%Of COD load,46.8% Of TN load,and 54.1%of TP load,respectively,according to all the storm events.It is suggested that controlling the first flush is a critical measure in reduction of urban stormwater pollution.