Impact of Urban Storm Runoff on Stream Quality Near Atlanta, Georgia

摘要

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of stormwater runoff from point and nonpoint sources on the water quality of receiving streams in the Atlanta area. Emphasis was placed on the collection of water-quality data in the summer and autumn to determine the impact on streams from runoff produced by thunderstorms during the dry-weather seasons. Compared to dry-weather flow, stormwater runoff significantly increased the average concentration of suspended sediment, BOD5, total organic carbon, total ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, fecal coliform bacteria, and trace metals in most receiving streams in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Stormwater runoff increased the mean concentration of most constituents 2- to 5-fold.