| Popis: |
Understanding the major drivers of runoff water quality in urban areas is important for sustainable water management. In this study, runoff water quality in a catchment in Colombia and another in Brazil was monitored and related to rain, and meteorological variables through correlation and principal component analysis. High correlations were found between event mean concentration of total suspended solids (TSS) and total phosphorus (TP), as well as with total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total organic carbon (TOC). The results indicated that TSS and TP were related to sediment transport in the catchment, while NTK and TOC were derived from point sources (improper wastewater disposal). Rain depth, maximum specific discharge, air temperature, and solar radiation were the main factors explaining variability of water quality. These results contribute to a better understanding of local processes driving runoff water quality, and bring valuable insights for modelling and management of stormwater in urban catchments. |
