Effect of Stormwater System on the Receiver

Abstract

The surface water quality assessment could be based on a combined physical and chemical analysis, but it could also be determined with bioindication methods. Classical physicochemical analysis is in most cases more expensive and time-consuming than the bioindication methods. This type of analysis also requires expensive equipment and shows the situation in the water only at the moment of sampling. Although the bioindication methods are often complicated, they allow a relatively inexpensive estimation of the water quality. Moreover, during their implementation, the substances harmful to the environment are not generated, and the obtained results usually reflect the total interaction of all factors and substances to the analyzed living organisms. Indicator organisms or their communities applied to the research, with identified ranges of tolerance to selected factors, could help to determine the physical and chemical parameters of water. This paper presents a bioindication study with an effect of stormwater system on the receiver-the Bystrzyca river, in Lublin, Poland. The level of saprophyty of the river sector was calculated based on the selected species of algae (diatoms and green algae) and the influence of the stormwater discharge on the communities of these organisms was determined.

Evaluation of Stormwater System Influence on the River Using Algae

“…In general, as shown earlier, the effect of runoff manifests itself in an increase in the saprobity index [Babko et al, 2019], while the TDI index remained stable at all stations. The ranges in which the indices of saprobity and TDI change indicate that the runoff from the stormwater system does not change the trophic status of the river, and in the studied area, the water quality corresponds to the β-mesosaprobic conditions.…”

“…It was previously shown [Babko et al, 2019] that despite the small volume and irregularity of the surface runoff volume into the Bystrica river in the study area, the structure of algae assemblages in periphyton significantly differed both in the qualitative composition and in the quantitative development of populations.…”

“…The algae samples were collected at the confluence of the stormwater inflow and Bystrica and at a distance of 50 m before and beyond of it. Description of the segment of Bystrica in the study area was given in a previous publication [Babko et al, 2019]. The samples of algae were scraped from a fixed surface area of 1 cm 2 to 5 cm 2 .…”

“…Most modern rivers experience, in varying degree, various forms of new for nature influences [Acreman et al, 2004;Poff et al, 2007;Poff, Zimmerman, 2010;Vörösmarty et al, 2010]. One of the widespread sources of river pollution is the wastewater coming from both wastewater treatment plants and the stormwater system [Gücker et al, 2006;Spänhoff et al, 2007;Babko et al 2016Babko et al , 2019Pliashechnyk et al, 2018]. Wastewater can vary significantly in composition and concentration of the substances introduced into water bodies.…”

Dependency Between the Total and Effective Imperviousness for Residential Quarters of the Lviv City

“…The increase of impervious surface areas as a result of the urbanization process has a significant effect on the hydrologic cycle and on the ecological status of surface water bodies (European waters, 2018). The high content of organic contaminants in the surface runoff leads to the harmful changes in the qualitative composition of water in rivers, ponds and lakes, causing their eutrophication and rapid growth of cyanobacteria (Babko et al, 2019, Malovanyy et al, 2019, Malovanyy et al, 2016.…”