skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: The contribution of urban runoff to hydrocarbon pollution

Journal Article · · J. - Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6631333

The contribution of urban runoff to hydrocarbon pollution was studied by sampling a storm sewer in northern Philadelphia which discharges into Sandy Run, a tributary of the Delaware River. Five storm events were studied during the period 9/3/74-11/21/75. The runoff contained an average 3.69 mg/l. total hydrocarbons, which indicates a loading of 22.9 lb/yr/acre from urban areas on the lower Delaware Estuary. Of the total hydrocarbons, 69.6Vertical Bar3< were aliphatic and 30.4Vertical Bar3< aromatic. In addition, 86.4Vertical Bar3< were associated with the particulate materials present and only 13.6Vertical Bar3< with the soluble constituents. However, as the runoff increased, the fraction of hydrocarbons associated with the particulates also increased. No relationship was found between load and the time since prior rainfall, but a relationship was found between runoff and load. Preliminary analyses showed that the primary source of these hydrocarbons may be crankcase oil.

OSTI ID:
6631333
Journal Information:
J. - Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States), Vol. 51:8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English