Characterization of Stormwater Runoffs from Five Different Types of Wastes.

Abstract: Stormwater falling on outdoor waste disposal areas becomes polluted via contact with waste materials. It contains various pollutants. On the basis of the present study, stormwater runoffs from five different types of waste disposal sites have been collected and characterized in two modern waste management centers where several waste management activities are carried out. Mean values and 90% confidence intervals of nutrients, eight types of trace metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Zn, As, Cu), petroleum oils, BOD, TOC, PH, dissolved oxygen, Cl, and conductivity were all calculated. Of many investigated stormwater quality parameters, runoff from certain areas showed measured values above the limits for direct discharge into recipients at Löt waste management center. The pollutants transported by stormwater represent a significant threat to the environment and possible treatment methods were analyzed. A high variability of stormwater runoff quality was found not only among different waste disposal sites, but also in data measured at the same waste disposal site of different sampling events. Sampling experiences and analyzed results indicate that the frequent changes in activities carried out on waste disposal sites, the sampling time in each sampling event, weather conditions, the amount of waste dust on sites surfaces, and waste characteristics all have impacts on the amount of pollutants transported by stormwater. Besides, a simply designed stormwater sedimentation experiment was conducted along with this study and it proved to be very effective for the removal of suspended soils and particle-associated pollutants.