Using mathematical modelling to inform on the ability of stormwater ponds to improve the water quality of urban runoff

This paper concerns the mathematical modelling of flow and solute transport through stormwater ponds. The model is based on appropriate lumped system conservation equations that are solved using standard numerical techniques. The model was used to route a first flush pollution scenario through a cylindrical pond for 16 combinations of elevation and diameter of a submerged pipe outlet, in conjunction with a high level weir. Higher pipe elevations and smaller pipe diameters created larger pond volumes and hence led to greater dilution of the pollutant. In contrast, lower pipe elevations created larger storage volumes, leading to better flow attenuation. Interestingly, larger pipe diameters improved peak flow attenuation, even though the storage used decreased.