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Updated: May 24, 2026
08:49
Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
Modelling pathogen fate in stormwaters by a particle-pathogen interaction model using population balances.
L Vergeynst1, B Vallet, P A Vanrolleghem
1Département de génie civil et de génie des eaux, Université Laval, 1065 av. de la Médecine, Québec, Qc, Canada.
Summary
This study models pathogen behavior in stormwater basins, finding that increased water retention and solar disinfection significantly reduce pathogen loads released into rivers. This improves water quality for riverine ecosystems and human use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Quality Management
- Microbiology
Background:
- Stormwater runoff carries various contaminants, including pathogens, which degrade the quality of receiving water bodies and impact river use.
- Pathogen pollution in rivers poses a significant risk to water safety and ecological health.
- Effective management of stormwater is crucial for protecting aquatic environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and present a comprehensive model simulating pathogen behavior within stormwater basins.
- To investigate the influence of various fate processes on pathogen removal, including decay, adsorption, settling, and solar disinfection.
- To evaluate the pathogen removal efficiencies of stormwater basins under different conditions.
Main Methods:
- A numerical model was developed to simulate pathogen fate processes (decay, adsorption/desorption, settling, solar disinfection) in stormwater basins.
- The model incorporates a layered approach and considers particle settling velocity distributions to predict concentration profiles with depth.
- It accounts for particle classes with varying settling velocities to realistically represent stormwater quality and treatment.
Main Results:
- The model demonstrated a strong and significant effect of solar disinfection on pathogen inactivation within stormwater basins.
- Increased water retention time in basins was found to effectively reduce pathogen loads released into rivers.
- The model successfully generated detailed vertical profiles of light intensity, particle, and pathogen concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Stormwater basin design and operation can be optimized to enhance pathogen removal through processes like solar disinfection and extended retention times.
- The developed model provides a valuable tool for assessing and improving pathogen removal efficiencies in stormwater management.
- Reducing pathogen loads in stormwater is essential for safeguarding river water quality and public health.
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