Impact of catchment and rainfall characteristics on urban runoff quality

Stormwater runoff quality models are needed to design effective non-point pollutant control device,which highlights the accuracy and reliability of modeling results.Runoff samples were collected at four urban catchment outlets in Australia. The relationship between runoff qualities and their key influential factors,i.e.catchment characteristics and rainfall characteristics was investigated using both univariate and multivariate data analysis techniques.The results indicate that catchments with the same land use type and impervious surface fraction may produce different runoff qualities and that the total suspended solids behave differently from nitrogen,phosphorus and total organic carbon in the stormwater runoff.The results also show that pollutant concentrations and loads in the runoff are affected by rainfall characteristics.These results contribute to the improvement of stormwater quality modeling.