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OVERVIEW OF EPA'S WET-WEATHER FLOW RESEARCH PROGRAM
Citation:
Sullivan*, D AND R Field*. OVERVIEW OF EPA'S WET-WEATHER FLOW RESEARCH PROGRAM. National Defense Industrial Association's 26th Environmental Symposium & Exhibition, Long Beach, CA, 3/27-30/2000.
Description:
Surface waters receive three types of urban wet-weather flow discharges: combined-sewer overflow (CSO), stormwater, and sanitary-sewer overflow (SSO); all are principally untreated discharges that occur during storm-flow events. WWFs have proven to generate a substantial amount of chemical, physical and biological stress to receiving waters. Control of WWF pollution is one of the top cleanup priority areas for the EPA. Problem constituents in WWF include visible matter; pathogenic microorganisms; oxygen-demanding materials; suspended solids; nutrients; toxic heavy metals, pesticides and other organics; and roadway deicing chemicals. Of special concern to EPA are the pathogens and nutrients, notably nitrogen, ssociated with WWF in the urban watershed. Several independent sources developed cost estimates to control contamination from the three sources of WWF. the Projected costs for CSO pollution abatement are more than $50B. SSO pollution control is also estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars. Stormwater management costs will even be higher than the combined costs of CSO and SSO abatement. Municipalities are finding it difficult to meet these high costs, so low-cost alternatives are a priority research area.