Journal Article

Urban stormwater harvesting and reuse: a probe into the chemical, toxicology and microbiological contaminants in water quality

Tang, Janet, Gernjak, Wolfgang, Escher, Beate, Sidhu, Jatinder, Toze, Simon, Aryal, Rupak, Chong, Meng Nan

2013

Overview

Stormwater is one of the last major untapped urban water resources that can be exploited as an alternative water source in Australia. The information in the current Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling relating to stormwater harvesting and reuse only emphasises on a limited number of stormwater quality parameters. In order to supply stormwater as a source for higher value end-uses, a more comprehensive assessment on the potential public health risks has to be undertaken. Owing to the stochastic variations in rainfall, catchment hydrology and also the types of non-point pollution sources that can provide contaminants relating to different anthropogenic activities and catchment land uses, the characterisation of public health risks in stormwater is complex, tedious and not always possible through the conventional detection and analytical methods. In this study, a holistic approach was undertaken to assess the potential public health risks in urban stormwater samples from a medium-density residential catchment. A combined chemical–toxicological assessment was used to characterise the potential health risks arising from chemical contaminants, while a combination of standard culture methods and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods was used for detection and quantification of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and pathogens in urban stormwater. Results showed that the concentration of chemical contaminants and associated toxicity were relatively low when benchmarked against other alternative water sources such as recycled wastewater. However, the concentrations of heavy metals particularly cadmium and lead have exceeded the Australian guideline values, indicating potential public health risks. Also, high numbers of FIB were detected in urban stormwater samples obtained from wet weather events. In addition, qPCR detection of human-related pathogens suggested there are frequent sewage ingressions into the urban stormwater runoff during wet weather events. Further water quality monitoring study will be conducted at different contrasting urban catchments in order to undertake a more comprehensive public health risk assessment for urban stormwater.

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: analysis / analytical methods / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / anthropogenic activities / Anthropogenic factors / Applied ecology / Applied sciences / Assessments / Bacteria / Biological and medical sciences / Buildings. Public works / Cadmium / Case studies / Catchments / chemical concentration / Chemical contaminants / Chemical pollution / chemistry / Cities / Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife / Construction / Contaminants / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecology / Ecotoxicology / Environment / Environmental Management / Environmental Monitoring / Exact sciences and technology / Fecal coliforms / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / harvesting / Health risk assessment / Health risks / Heavy metals / High density polyethylenes / Hydrology / indicator species / Land use / lead / Metal concentrations / Methods / Microbiology / Microorganisms / Monitoring/Environmental Analysis / Natural water pollution / Nonpoint source pollution / Pathogens / Pollution / Pollution monitoring / Polymerase chain reaction / Public health / quantitative analysis / Rain / Rainwaters, run off water and others / Risk / Risk assessment / Risk management / Sewage / Sewage - microbiology / Statistical analysis / Storm runoff / Stormwater / Stormwater quality / Studies / toxicity / Toxicology / Urban areas / Urban catchments / Urban development / Urban planning / urban runoff / Waste Disposal, Fluid / Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods / Waste Water - chemistry / Waste Water - microbiology / Waste Water - toxicity / wastewater / Water conservation / Water Microbiology / Water Pollutants / Water Pollutants - analysis / Water Pollutants - chemistry / Water Pollutants - toxicity / Water pollution / Water Quality / Water quality management / Water resources / Water reuse / Water treatment and pollution / watershed hydrology / watersheds