You are here:
Effects of Stormwater Infiltration on Quality of Groundwater Beneath Retention and Detention Basins
Citation:
Fischer**, D., E. G. Charles, AND A. L. Baehr. Effects of Stormwater Infiltration on Quality of Groundwater Beneath Retention and Detention Basins. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Reston, VA, 129(5):464-471, (2003).
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
Use of stormwater retention and detention basins has become a popular method for managing urban and suburban stormwater runoff. Infiltration of stormwater through these basins may increase the risk to ground-water quality, especially in areas where the soil is sandy and the water table shallow, and contaminants may not have a chance to degrade or sorb onto soil particles before reaching the saturated zone. Ground water from monitoring wells installed in basins in Camden and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey, was sampled and analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, nutrients, and major ions. Results of analysis of these detention-basin samples were compared to Abackground@ ground-water quality at sites in areas of Anew-urban@ land use. Basin ground water showed significantly lower levels of dissolved oxygen, which impacted concentrations of certain major ions. Patterns of VOC and pesticide occurrence reflect the drainage areas served by the basins, and are distinct from background ground water, though total concentration of these classes of compounds do not differ significantly between basin and background ground water. Dilution effects decrease concentration and detection of certain ubiquitous compounds found in background ground water.
URLs/Downloads:
Effects of Stormwater Infiltration on Quality of Groundwater Beneath Retention and Detention Basins