Implementing a Sustainable Stormwater Management Program in an Urban

Center – Baltimore, Maryland

Catherine J. DiBlasiDr. Neely Law, Dr. Upal Ghosh

University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyCivil & Environmental Engineering

Chesapeake Bay

• Eutrophication – Due to excess nutrient loading

Photos: www.whrc.org, www.chesapeakebay.net

Chesapeake Bay Watershed 166,000 km2

Agriculture

Urban landscape

Wastewater treatment plants

Urban Stormwater : 16 % of Phosphorous11 % of Nitrogen9 % of Sediment Loads to Chesapeake Bay(CBP 2006)

Baltimore, MD – Watershed 263

Impervious Cover = 75 %

• 376 hectares• No flowing surface waters• Dry weather baseflow

WS 263

Figures: Parks & People, Center for Watershed Protection

A Holistic Approach to Urban Stormwater Management

• Address all sources and underlying causes• Community outreach • Improve water quality

and quality of life

Photos: G. Hagar, Parks & People Foundation

Outfall 2637.6 m diameter

Creating a community garden in a vacant lot.

Community Involvement• Creative Partnerships

• Projects Schoolyard Greening Clean & Green

An example of a schoolyard greening project.

Photos: Parks & People Foundation

Street Sweeping and Storm Drain Cleanouts

Street Sweeping Storm Drain Cleanout

• Limited Space• Limited Money

Photos: Baltimore City DPW, Center for Watershed Protection

Figure: www.cwp.org

Paired Watershed Study

Catchment F

Catchment O

Water quality monitoring station

85 % dec. curb-km swept/week

48 % inc. curb-km swept/week + storm drain cleanout

WS 263 Field Monitoring

Photos: U. Ghosh, K. Belt

Water Quality MonitoringStreet Particulate Sampling

Event Mean Concentration (EMC) = mass/volume

Total Nitrogen

Median Total Nitrogen Values for Baseline Sampling Period (Sept 2004 - Dec 2005)

3.6 3.5

6.3

2.42.0

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

BaltimoreBaseflow (O)

LanvaleBaseflow (F)

BaltimoreStorm (O)

LanvaleStorm (F)

NationalStorm

Median EMC

To

tal N

itro

ge

n (

mg

/L)

(TK

N +

NO

2 +

NO

3)

Sources: Baltimore City Department of Public Works – Water Quality Management Section (2006), Pitt et al. (2004).

n = 20-24

Fecal Coliform Count

Fecal Coliform Count (Most Probable Number/100 ml)-Baseline Period

900 4000 5081

30000

90000

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

BaltimoreBaseflow

(O)

LanvaleBaseflow

(F)

BaltimoreStorm (O)

LanvaleStorm (F)

NationalStorm

MedianEMC

Fe

ca

l Co

lifo

rm C

ou

nt

(MP

N/1

00

ml)

Sources: Baltimore City Department of Public Works – Water Quality Management Section (2006), Pitt et al. (2004).

n = 20-24

Public Health Risk

Photos: U. Ghosh

Lead - Dissolved and Total

Median Lead (ug/L) - Dissolved and TotalDuring Baseline Period

0102030405060

BaltimoreBaseflow

(O)

LanvaleBaseflow

(F)

BaltimoreStorm (O)

LanvaleStorm (F)

NationalStorm

MedianEMC

Le

ad

(u

g/L

) Total Pb

Dissolved Pb

Sources: Baltimore City Department of Public Works – Water Quality Management Section (2006), Pitt et al. (2004).

n = 20-24

Ongoing Work

• Risk assessment on particulate matter

• Installation of > 100 innovative stormwater practices

• Quality of life assessment

Conclusions

• Need alternative approaches to nutrient reduction.

• Health of the Bay depends on the cumulative benefit of all community-based watershed programs.

• Community involvement and creative partnerships essential, WS 263 an excellent example.

Thank You

Neely Law, CWP Project ManagerDr. Upal Ghosh, UMBC

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Baseline Water Quality Data

Parameter UnitsLanvale

Baseflow1

BaltimoreBaseflow1

Lanvale Storm1

Baltimore Storm1

National Storm EMC2

TP mg/L 0.11 0.46 0.3 0.37 0.27TN (TKN + NO2 + NO3) mg/L 3.6 6.3 2.4 3.5 2

TSS mg/L 25 3.2 52 52 58

Fecal Coliform Count

MPN/ 100 ml 4000 900 30000 90000 5081

Total Pb (diss. + part.) (μg/L) 7.9 2.8 46 44 16

Pb dissolved (μg/L) 1 2 2.5 3.5 N/A

Sources: 1Baltimore City Department of Public Works – Water Quality Management Section (2006), 2Pitt et al. (2004).

Median Values for Select Parameters