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Separation of particulate matter (PM) is the most important process to achieve a reduction of contaminants present in road runoff. To further improve knowledge about influencing factors on the settling of road-deposited sediment (RDS), samples from three sites were collected. Since particle size distribution (PSD) has the strongest effect on settling, the samples were sieved to achieve comparable PSDs so that the effects of particle density, shape, fluid temperature, and deicing salt concentration on settling could be assessed using settling experiments. Based on the experimental data, a previously proposed model that describes the settling of PM was further developed and validated. In addition, RDS samples were compared to a standard mineral material, which is currently in use to evaluate treatment efficiency of stormwater quality improvement devices. The main finding was that besides PSD, particle density is the most important influencing factor. Particle shape was thoroughly described but showed no significant improvement of the prediction of the settled mass. Temperature showed an effect on PM settling, deicing salts were negligible. The proposed models can sufficiently predict the settling of RDS in settling column experiments under varying boundary conditions and are easily applicable.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the development and application of technical decentralized filter systems for the treatment of runoff from traffic areas. However, there are still many uncertainties regarding the service life and the performance of filter materials that are employed in decentralized treatment systems. These filter media are designed to prevent the transport of pollutants into the environment. A novel pilot-scale test method was developed to determine - within a few days - the service lives and long-term removal efficiencies for dissolved heavy metals in stormwater treatment systems. The proposed method consists of several steps including preloading the filter media in a pilot-scale model with copper and zinc by a load of n-1 years of the estimated service life (n). Subsequently, three representative rain events are simulated to evaluate the long-term performance by dissolved copper and zinc during the last year of application. The presented results, which verified the applicability of this method, were obtained for three filter channel systems and six filter shaft systems. The performance of the evaluated systems varied largely for both tested heavy metals and during all three simulated rain events. A validation of the pilot-scale assessment method with field measurements was also performed for two systems. Findings of this study suggest that this novel method does provide a standardized and accurate estimation of service intervals of decentralized treatment systems employing various filter materials. The method also provides regulatory authorities, designers, and operators with an objective basis for performance assessment and supports stormwater managers to make decisions for the installation of such decentralized treatment systems.

Biofiltration has proved to be a useful system to treat combined sewer overflow (CSO). The study presented uses numerical simulation to detect the critical operating conditions of the filter. The multi-component reactive transport module CW2D was used for the simulation study. Single-event simulations of lab-scale-column experiments with varying boundary conditions regarding the throttle outflow rate were carried out. For the calibration of the CW2D model measurement results of four experiments in two lab-scale columns were used. The model was validated by simulating four events of two further columns filled with the same filter material. These columns were operating with higher throttle outflow rates than the columns used for calibration. For ammonium (NH4-N) a good fit between measured and simulated data could be achieved. However, the comparison of simulated and measured effluent concentrations of nitrate (NO3-N) showed that there is a need for further investigations mainly due to the uncertainties in the degradation process during dry periods between the loadings.

The stormwater runoff and infiltration performance of permeable pavements has been systematically evaluated within an intensive monitoring program. The primary objective of the investigation was to generate a broad database, which enables the development of an advanced simulation module for urban drainage modelling. Over 160 field and lab scale experiments have been completed and analyzed for surface runoff and infiltration characteristics. The test series include several pavement types under various boundary conditions such as diverse precipitation impacts, varying surface slope and layer construction as well as different stages of surface clogging and several base and subgrade layer characteristics. The results represent a reliable and comprehensive database that allows profound conclusions and substantial recommendations.

This is an investigation into possible changes to quantity and composition of sewage in the combined sewer system and the waste water treatment plant (WWTP) caused by new stormwater management strategies (mainly by disconnecting areas from the sewer system). Various scenarios were developed and the consequences on the water systems were calculated by using the simulation model KOSMO, in a fictional catchment. The results of the combined sewer overflow-calculation show an enormous decrease of the overflow annual load for different parameters (COD, ammonia) by the reduction of impervious surfaces. Thus, the overflow concentrations of some parameters increase dramatically under these conditions, in particular the ammonia concentration might cause critical situations (e.g. sensitive receiving water).

Selected organic pollutants are classified based on an intensive literature survey. Two wastewater parameters (COD and ammonium) and six selected organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and nitrilo triaceticacid (NTA)) are specified. As a result, for the first time representative concentrations in dry weather flow, surface runoff and effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in combined sewer systems (CSS) are stated. The second part of the paper presents a first estimation of main emission out of a combined sewer system and possible receiving water impacts in terms of (1) annual discharged loads calculated by pollution load simulations in a hypothetical catchment and (2) concentrations calculated in combined sewer overflows (CSO) discharges and resulting receiving water concentrations.