Urban stormwater runoff contamination associated with gutter and pipe material degradation
type: CreativeWork
description: In addition to typical stormwater pollutant sources (erosion materials, automotive activity, landscaping chemicals, pet wastes, etc.), urban stormwater runoff can also be contaminated with substances that leach from materials with which the water contacts as the rain water travels through an urban area to the discharge point. Prior studies have shown that the composition of roofing materials and the drainage system pipes can significantly affect the amounts of pollutants, particularly heavy metals, released into the runoff, especially for roof runoff. This dissertation research indicated that water chemistry (pH, salinity, major ions, etc.) and time of contact may also affect the release of contaminants from materials. The primary objective of this research was to examine how different drainage system and tank materials, water chemical characteristics, and exposure times affect contaminant losses during controlled tests examining the expected range of these characteristics. Static leaching tests for eight pipe and gutter materials were conducted over two separate three month periods during which pipe and gutter test materials were exposed to roof runoff and stormwater buffered to pH 5 and 8 and for exposure to different salinity conditions. A suite of heavy metal and nutrient constituents were periodically analyzed during the exposure periods. Also, pH, Eh, toxicity, alkalinity, total and calcium hardness, chloride and sulfate analysis were evaluated. This research found that the metallic gutter and pipe materials released significant heavy metals. Some of these materials were found to release large amounts of zinc, copper, and lead during the tests, with galvanized steel materials being the most significant sources of lead and zinc, while copper materials were the most important source of copper (as expected). Zinc, copper, and lead releases were detected during both short and long exposure times under low and high pH conditions and low and high salinity conditions…
abstract: In addition to typical stormwater pollutant sources (erosion materials, automotive activity, landscaping chemicals, pet wastes, etc.), urban stormwater runoff can also be contaminated with substances that leach from materials with which the water contacts as the rain water travels through an urban area to the discharge point. Prior studies have shown that the composition of roofing materials and the drainage system pipes can significantly affect the amounts of pollutants, particularly heavy metals, released into the runoff, especially for roof runoff. This dissertation research indicated that water chemistry (pH, salinity, major ions, etc.) and time of contact may also affect the release of contaminants from materials. The primary objective of this research was to examine how different drainage system and tank materials, water chemical characteristics, and exposure times affect contaminant losses during controlled tests examining the expected range of these characteristics. Static leaching tests for eight pipe and gutter materials were conducted over two separate three month periods during which pipe and gutter test materials were exposed to roof runoff and stormwater buffered to pH 5 and 8 and for exposure to different salinity conditions. A suite of heavy metal and nutrient constituents were periodically analyzed during the exposure periods. Also, pH, Eh, toxicity, alkalinity, total and calcium hardness, chloride and sulfate analysis were evaluated. This research found that the metallic gutter and pipe materials released significant heavy metals. Some of these materials were found to release large amounts of zinc, copper, and lead during the tests, with galvanized steel materials being the most significant sources of lead and zinc, while copper materials were the most important source of copper (as expected). Zinc, copper, and lead releases were detected during both short and long exposure times under low and high pH conditions and low and high salinity conditions…
author: Ogburn, Olga Nikolaevna Loukianova
language: en_US
language: English
keywords: Engineering, Civil engineering
date published: 2013
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:44:23Z
provider: University of Alabama
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Alabama Libraries