Urban runoff pollution - summary thoughts - The state-of-practice today and for the 21(st) century

A number of papers at this conference were presented on quality aspects of urban runoff. In addition, three workshops addressed Urban Best Management Practices (BMPs), Highway Runoff, and Megacities in the 21st Century, respe ctively. Several well-known presenters expressed conflicting views on funda mental issues regarding BMP adequacy and the proper approach to urban runof f quality management. Upon reflection, the author believes that the conflic ting opinions result principally from two related facts: 1) there is no acc epted uniform design criteria for BMPs, so that various authors are compari ng apples and oranges; and 2) the objectives of the management practices di ffer between authors. This paper responds to those conflicting views, with some reflections on the state-of-practice in the three subject areas, based upon some of the presentations in the conference sessions and in the works hops. (C) 1999 IAWQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.