Author(s): Zulkifli Yusop; Ming Fai Chow; Fang Yenn Teo

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Keywords: Event mean concentration; Inter-monsoon season; Stormwater; Tropical environment; Monsoon season

Abstract: Information on pollution level and the influence of a hydrologic regime on stormwater pollutant loading in tropical urban areas remains scarce. More local data is still required, as rainfall and runoff generation processes in tropical environment differ greatly from temperate regions. This study compares the stormwater runoff quality from urban catchments during monsoon and inter-monsoon seasons in the south of Peninsular Malaysia. Stormwater samples and flow rate data were collected from 38 storm events at three individual sites. Samples were analysed for total suspended solids (TSS), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), oil and grease (O&G), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH 3 -N), and total phosphorus (TP). Event mean concentration (EMC) was calculated for each pollutant for every monitored storm event at all study sites. The Mann–Whitney test was used to test for significance ( p p 3 -N, and TP but not for BOD, COD, and NO 3 -N. Stormwater pollutant loading of TSS, NH 3 -N, and TP is higher during the inter-monsoon season while BOD, COD, and NO 3 -N show higher loadings during the monsoon season. A better understanding of pollutant transport mechanisms will aid in formulating an effective stormwater management measures to control the urban stormwater pollution in the tropics.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15715124.2015.1082479

Year: 2016