Advances in Water Treatment and Enviromental Management

Chapter 22PREVENTION OF WATERPOLLUTION ARISING FROM NON-POINT DISCHARGES FROM URBANAREASV M Khrat (All-Union Scientific Research Institute for Water Protection,Kharkov, USSR)SUMMARYDetrimental effect of nonpoint (NP) discharge from urban areas on BiolochemicalOxygen Demand (BOD) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of streams and water bodieswas evaluated by a mathematical model on the basis of field data andcomputerized prognostic calculations. Various situations were analysed atdifferent combinations of geomorphologie characteristics of water bodies anddifferent dimensions of populated areas. As a result there were defined waterbodies needing urgent protection against pollution from urban NP discharge.Analysis of economic indices of traditional methods of urban stormwatertreatment, on special treatment units with stormwater discharge systems,demonstrated high cost of such measures, especially if expressed in units of massof removed pollutants. This led to a conclusion that it is impossible to solve theproblem in the near future along these lines only.A so-called complex ecological and technological approach to solving the problemis offered. It involves quality control in the process of the NP discharge formation byintroduction of normative limits on pollutants building up in urban areas. Thelimits should be observed by limiting industrial emissions to the atmosphere, soilerosion, destruction of road coverings and by the improvement of ecological situationas a whole. On territories with heavy technogenic loadings (industrial zones,highways, etc) it is necessary to construct local stormwater discharge and treatmentunits for first portions of NP discharge.Such measures will not only limit pollutant discharges (currently tending to increaseas a result of urbanization) but also allow cuts of 25–30 % compared with thepresent level.©1991 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd, EnglandWater Treatment—Proceedings of the 1st International Conference, pp. 223–230223