Evaluation of methods for estimating stormwater pollutant loads

This paper investigates a number of methods that can be used to generate co nstituent concentrations for use in stormwater modeling. These include the use of event mean concentrations (EMCs) and pollutant buildup and washoff f ormulations. Suspended solids data collected in the Austin, Texas, area fro m single-land-use watersheds were used to evaluate the usefulness of these methods. Use of a single EMC for all urban land uses was shown to provide a reasonable estimate of solids lends. This suggests that increases in total suspended solids loads resulting from development will be primarily a func tion of the increase in runoff volume, which in turn may be related to incr eased impervious cover. Water quality data did not indicate a strong correl ation between initial pollutant load on the watershed and length of the ant ecedent dry period; however, the concentration of suspended solids in storm water runoff does follow a simple washoff model.