Sediment and Heavy Metal Accumulation in a Dry Stormwater
Detention Basin
Qizhong Guo
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Vol. 123, No. 5, 1997, pp. 295-301
Abstract
Amount, heavy metal content, organic content, and mass distribution of the bottom sediment in an 18-year-old, single-purpose dry stormwater detention basin were measured. The measured results were used to assess the effect of sedimentation on flood control capacity and the applicability of recommended values for predicting amounts of sediment and heavy metal accumulation. The rate of sediment accumulation was measured to be 0.8 cm per year. Because of sedimentation, the flood control capacity of the basin was estimated to have decreased from that for the 13-year storm to that for the 4-year storm. Both the soil erosion rate and the suspended solid concentration recommended for prediction the amount of sediment accumulation appear to be applicable for this basin. However, recommended metal trap efficiencies, recommended concentrations of heavy metals in runoff, or both appear to be too high for predicting the amount of heavy metal accumulation in this basin.
