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Development of a Depth‐Integrated Sample Arm to Reduce Solids Stratification Bias in Stormwater Sampling
Author(s) -
Selbig William R.,
Bannerman Roger T.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143010x12851009156006
Subject(s) - stormwater , surface runoff , environmental science , water column , storm , stratification (seeds) , suspended solids , sediment , hydrology (agriculture) , water quality , total suspended solids , settling , environmental engineering , wastewater , geology , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , seed dormancy , ecology , oceanography , botany , germination , chemical oxygen demand , dormancy , biology
A new depth‐integrated sample arm (DISA) was developed to improve the representation of solids in stormwater, both organic and inorganic, by collecting a water quality sample from multiple points in the water column. Data from this study demonstrate the idea of vertical stratification of solids in storm sewer runoff. Concentrations of suspended sediment in runoff were statistically greater using a fixed rather than multi‐point collection system. Median suspended sediment concentrations measured at the fixed location (near the pipe invert) were approximately double those collected using the DISA. In general, concentrations and size distributions of suspended sediment decreased with increasing vertical distance from the storm sewer invert. Coarser particles tended to dominate the distribution of solids near the storm sewer invert as discharge increased. In contrast to concentration and particle size, organic material, to some extent, was distributed homogenously throughout the water column, likely the result of its low specific density, which allows for thorough mixing in less turbulent water.