Use of a simple passive monitoring system to assess detention basin stormwater

Abstract

Abstract The ability to monitor stormwater quality while in detention basins would be useful for stormwater managers. A simple passive method of monitoring vertical elevations of pooled stormwater in detention basins was developed. The simple method used plastic buckets with holes drilled into them to collect water as stormwater filled the basin from first flush to peak. The method was installed at three different detention basins and stormwater was collected using the simple passive system at different vertical pool elevations for three storm events. Total suspended solids were found to decline from first flush in keeping with other studies on stormwater. In addition, total phosphorous and E. coli were found to differ among storm events and pool elevations. The simple passive vertical water quality assessment system was found to produce reliable results similar to what others have found. The advantages of this assessment method were that it reduced exposure of personnel to hazardous conditions, was low cost, and was a simple, uncomplicated way to sample stormwater.

Keywords

• Stormwater
• Detention basin
• Passive monitoring
• Water quality
• First flush