impacts of rainfall events on water in the houston metro...
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Impacts of Rainfall Events on Water Quality in the Houston Metro Area
Hanadi Rifai and Anuradha DesaiCivil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Houston, Houston, TX
AcknowledgmentsTCEQEPAHouston EndowmentMy graduate students
Rainfall and Water QualityTremendous growth in Houston Metro since 80sMetro area is mostly covered with impervious surfacesComplex water‐sanitary‐storm networkLeaks, bypasses, overflows not uncommonHouston receives > 48 in precipitation annuallyRain on average once a weekStorm water network includes pipes, ditches and bayous
Effects of Urbanization on Aquatic Resources
HydrologyGeomorphologyWater QualityHabitat
Development & ImperviousnessImperviousness =
Fundamental changes in characteristics of land coverChange in physical structure of streamsChange in diversity and abundance of aquatic lifeMore pollutants in streams
>10% channel erosion>25% habitat degradation& poor water quality
Brays Land Use/Land Cover
Hydrologic EffectsDisruption of natural water balanceIncreased flood peaksMore storm water runoffMore frequent floodingIncreased bank full flowsLower dry weather flows (not counting effluent)
Increased Runoff
1
10
100
1000
10000
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Percentage not exceeding flow
Flow
(cfs
)
1983 to 1999 1983 to 1990 1991 to 1999
Cumulative Flow Frequency Curves Cumulative Flow Frequency Curves for Buffalo Bayou at West Beltfor Buffalo Bayou at West Belt
Cumulative Flow Frequency at USGS Station 8075000 Brays Bayou @ Houston
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%Percentage Not Exceeding Flow
Flow
(cfs
)
Entire recordUp to 19901991 and after
Brays at HoustonBrays at Houston
More flooding
Effects on Water Quality• Increased stream temperature• Increased pollutants• Increased risk of shellfish/beach
closure
Typical PollutantsSuspended solids/sedimentsNutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus)Metals (copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium)Oil & greases (PAHs)BacteriaPesticides and HerbicidesTemperaturePOPs (persistent, bioaccumulative, organic pollutants)Pharmaceuticals etc….
Buffalo Bayou at Westcott
White Oak Bayou at Heights
Bacteria and Bacteria Indicators
Ref: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/.../ecoli.htm
E.coli
Disease causing bacteria and virusesAssociated with fecal matter
ColiformColiform BacteriaBacteria
TotalTotal ColiformColiform(many environmental sources)(many environmental sources)
Fecal Fecal ColiformColiform(mostly fecal but some other sources)(mostly fecal but some other sources)
E. E. colicoli(good fecal indicator)(good fecal indicator)
Pathogenic Pathogenic E. E. colicoli
Leading cause of impairment in coastal shorelines (275 miles impaired) and the second leading cause of violations in rivers and streams (82,100 miles impaired) (US EPA 2007)
46% of 240 impaired water bodies in Texas do not meet contact recreation standards (TCEQ 2002)
Bayous in and around Houston, TX are on the 303(d) list for water quality exceedances of indicator bacteria
Bacterial Pollution
E. coliGeometric mean 126 MPN/dL
Single Sample Criteria 394 MPN/dL
Fecal Coliform
Geometric mean 200 MPN/dL
Single Sample Criteria 400 MPN/dL
Freshwater Standards in Texas (TCEQ)
End-of-Pipe Diffuse
Sources of Indicator Bacteria
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Sampled WWTP (< 1 MGD)Sampled WWTP (< 1 MGD)WWTP not Sampled (> 1 MGD)WWTP not Sampled (> 1 MGD)
n73; 8am and 10am Samplingn73; 8am and 10am Sampling
Comparison of Daily Flows (MGD) Comparison of Daily Flows (MGD) -- TVF Predictions to Observed FlowsTVF Predictions to Observed Flows
Results presented for TCEQ Permit # WQ0010495-099
Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Pathogens in Urban and Less Urban Watersheds
Urban watershedsHigher imperviousnessLow flow maintained by WWTPExtensive sewer infrastructureModified channelsPiped surface runoff
Less Urban watershedsNatural streamsMore pervious landDispersed mammalian and avian populationsNot effluent dominated
Urban watersheds exhibit frequent and severe exceedances at all flow levels. Less urban watersheds exhibit localized and limited WQ violations.
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Cypress Creek
Trinity Bay
Trinity River
Upper Oyster Creek
East Bay
Lake Houston
Greens Bayou
Clear Creek
Dickinson Bayou
Gulf of Mexico
Lower
Galvest
on Bay
Clear Lake
Whiteoak Bayou Above TidalBuffalo Bayou Above Tidal
Spring Creek
San Jacinto River
Cedar Bayou
Upper Galveston Bay
Oyster Creek
Scott Bay
Tabbs Bay
Armand Bayou
Houston Area Pathogen ImpairmentsHouston Area Pathogen Impairments
BuffaloWhiteOak
Brays
Sims
Greens
Halls
Houston Metro Watersheds
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
37% 51% 59% 76% 79%% Low to High Intensity Developed Landuse
Hal
ls
Gre
ens
Bra
ys
Sim
s
Eas
tern
Hou
ston
EC
Geo
mea
n M
PN/d
LBacteria Indicator ConcentrationsAs a Function of Development
WQ std
E. Coli Concentration Range
Single sample standardGeomean standard
Brays Bayou
1E+00
1E+01
1E+02
1E+03
1E+04
1E+05
1E+06
05101520253035
River km
E.c
oli (
MPN
/dL
1113
8
1585
4
1585
316
654
1116
911
140
1585
1
1585
0
1584
915
848
1585
5
1113
9
1665
2
1130
9
1585
2
1585
9
Geomean Standard: 126 MPN/dL
0 km is at boundary of Segment 1007B with Segment 1007
Legend
Maximum
Geometric mean
Minimum
E. E. Coli ExceedancesColi Exceedances in Braysin Brays
E. Coli Geomeans BB/WO
Time Series Time Series -- BBBB
Shepherd Dr., Buffalo Bayou
1/1/76 1/1/84 1/1/92 1/1/00
Feca
l Col
iform
(cfu
/100
mL
)
1e+0
1e+1
1e+2
1e+3
1e+4
1e+5
1e+6
Water Quality Standard(400 cfu/100 mL)
Whiteoak Bayou
Buffalo Bayou
Whiteoak Bayou
Buffalo Bayou
Station 16589
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
08/12/00 01/29/03 07/17/05 01/03/08Date
E. c
oli M
PN/d
L
394 MPN/dL Std.
Station 11125
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
08/12/00 01/29/03 07/17/05 01/03/08Date
E. c
oli M
PN/d
L
394 MPN/dL Std.
E.
coli
Time series –
Greens Bayou
Regression analysis of log transformed E. coli data vs. time showed significant trends (p < 0.05) at 18 % of total 85 stations analyzed
Influenced by seasons and rainfall:•
About 22% of Metro stations (n = 60) exhibited
statistical differences (p<0.05) between warmer and cooler months
•
About 60% of stations had a higher geomean during warmer seasons
•
About 50% of stations (n = 25) exhibited a significant negative correlation (p value < 0.05)
between number of days after rain and E. coli•
Rainfall raises E.
coli
concentrations beyond their
background levels
Indicator Bacteria Concentrations
Station 16663 - Eastern Houston
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
5/15/06 5/18/06 6/20/06 7/17/06 7/20/06
Date
E. c
oli M
PN/d
L
0
1
10
100
Flow
cfs
E. coliFlow
Station 16665 - Halls Bayou
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
5/15/06 5/19/06 6/20/06 7/17/06 7/20/06
Date
E. c
oli M
PN/d
L
0
0
1
10
100
Flow
(cfs
)
E.coliFlow
Correlation between E. coli
and Flow
R2 = 0.78 R2 = 0.74
y = 738.68e5.4664x
R2 = 0.84
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00
Previous 24 Hr Rainfall (inch)
E. c
oli M
PN/d
L
Correlation between E. coli
and Rainfall
Summer Flow @ HeightsSummer Flow @ Heights
1
10
100
1000
7/1/01 7/11/01 7/21/01 7/31/01 8/10/01 8/20/01 8/30/01
Flow
(acr
e-ft/
hour
)
0
2
4
6
Prec
ipita
tion
(in)
Observed Flow Modeled Flow Rain
Summer EC @ HeightsSummer EC @ Heights
1E+1
1E+2
1E+3
1E+4
1E+5
1E+6
1E+7
7/1/01 7/16/01 7/31/01 8/15/01 8/30/01
Observed EC
Sampling after June 2004 RainsSampling after June 2004 Rains
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
6/1/04 6/8/04 6/15/04 6/22/04 6/29/04 7/6/04 7/13/04 7/20/04
Rese
rvoi
r Sto
rage
(/10
, acr
e-ft)
Addicks StorageBarker Storage
Reservoirs Closed
Sampling after June 2004 RainsSampling after June 2004 Rains
1E+0
1E+1
1E+2
1E+3
1E+4
1E+5
1E+6
7/1/04 7/4/04 7/7/04 7/10/04 7/13/04 7/16/04 7/19/04 7/22/04
EC (M
PN/d
L)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Prec
ipita
tion
(in)
(a)
Addicks Discharge
Pools Present Pools Gone
1E+0
1E+1
1E+2
1E+3
1E+4
1E+5
1E+6
7/1/04 7/4/04 7/7/04 7/10/04 7/13/04 7/16/04 7/19/04 7/22/04
EC (M
PN/d
L)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Prec
ipita
tion
(in)
(c)
Barker Discharge
Pools Present Pools Gone
EC Standard (126 MPN/dL)
EC Standard
Sampling after June 2004 RainsSampling after June 2004 Rains
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Pools No Pools
EC Geometric Mean(MPN/dL)TSS Average (mg/L)
Excludes wet weather sampling data; average includes TBD1, TBD2, TBD3, 11142, and 11362
EC Standard (126 MPN/dL)
The Future…Houston is expected to double its population by 2035Current development practices not sustainableDevelopment + global warming can be devastatingNeed to attenuate imperviousnessNeed to manage diffuse sources of pollution (BMPs)