Urbanisation and stormwater quality

Abstract

Catchment urbanisation exerts significant impacts on water environments in the context of hydrology and water quality. The hydrologic changes due to urbanisation and the consequent increase in the impervious surface fraction include higher runoff volume and peak flow and reduced time to peak. The water quality changes are due to anthropogenic activities common to urban areas which generate a range of pollutants. These pollutants are transported to receiving waters during rainfall events, degrading the water environment. This Chapter provides a detailed discussion on common stormwater pollutants and their sources and highlights the fact that the involvement of these sources and resulting water quality is primarily influenced by catchment and rainfall characteristics. Catchment characteristics define the availability and mix of sources, whilst rainfall characteristics define the detachment and transport of pollutants.