Analysis of Chemical Contaminants in Campus Stormwater Runoff Using Cameras and Chemical Samplers, Phase I: Preliminary Research

Storm drains are an important part of modern urban development, as they prevent cities, which contain large amounts of impervious area, from flooding during rain events.  However, they are not without key drawbacks, one of which is the fact that they can readily become contaminated by runoff from parking lots, roadways, and other such anthropogenic sources. Moreover, it has been documented that deliberately dumping contaminants into them is not uncommon. Therefore, this project was designed to determine a reliable way to determine the types of contaminants which enter storm drains in real time during rain events, and to determine which contaminants and contaminant concentrations are affected by illicit dumping. This will be accomplished by designing new in-situ “lab in a package” chemical sensors which will also capture samples for further laboratory analysis. This presentation details the results of the first phase of the project, which includes laboratory testing by cameras and chemical methods which will take place in 3^rd Quarter 2015, in order to determine some of the contaminants which are commonly contaminating streams, lakes, and rivers into which storm drains empty.