Urban Run-Off Water Quality Research

Urban Run-off Water Research

POLLUTANTS FOUND IN NEIGHBORHOOD RUN-OFF

Eleven pest control chemicals were found in storm drain water samples from eight selected California neighborhoods virtually year round, including products no longer commercially available.  The main ingredients of lawn and garden fertilizers were also found in the water samples at all sites.

A collaboration of researchers, led by Orange County Water Resources/Water Quality Advisor Darren Haver and University of California Cooperative Extension Specialist Loren Oki, have been conducting a multi-year study to characterize the run-off from single-family home neighborhoods in Northern and Southern California.  Education provided to homeowners in the test neighborhoods is expected to reduce both the amount of run-off water and potentially harmful contents.  Computer models of flows and loads will aid future urban planning.

Research is being conducted around three primary activities.

• Run-off water sample collection and analysis
• DETAILS HERE
• Community Outreach and Education
• DETAILS HERE
• Pollutant Load Modeling
• DETAILS HERE

Summary brochure:

Urban run-off small flyer

Posters summarizing the project:

• Poster 1
• Poster 2

This project is supported by:

• CalFed Bay-Delta Program
• State Water Resources Control Board
  

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