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Strategic Planning and Policy, City of Calgary, P.O. Box 2100, Stn. M, LOC #433, T2P 2M5,
Calgary, AB, Canada
*Corresponding author, e-mail krista.vopicka@calgary.ca
ABSTRACT
The treatment of urban stormwater by retention ponds is known to be effective for water
quality improvement as well as storm flow management and in the past two decades has
become widely implemented. However, limited research has been conducted on the quality of
the resulting sediment within ponds. This research focuses on contaminant concentrations
within the sediment from stormwater ponds that have been created in Calgary, Canada.
Electrical conductivity and the sodium adsorption ratio consistently exceeded CCME
agricultural soil quality guidelines, indicating a city wide salt contamination issue. F3
hydrocarbon fractions, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc were also identified as
parameters of concern. In particular 61 Ave SE Duck pond displayed the greatest diversity
and severity of contaminants due to the industrial catchment area.
Removal and disposal options were limited due to the characteristics of the sediment.
Removal is anticipated to be mechanical as the solids concentrations were greater than the
liquid limit of clay. In addition, the examination of the solids content illustrates that all the
retention ponds will require the sediment to be dewatered prior to disposal. Disposal options
were subsequently restricted to landfill disposal due to salt, metal and/or hydrocarbon
parameters exceeding CCME soil guidelines.
KEYWORDS
Disposal; heavy metals; hydrocarbons; retention pond; salt; sediment.
INTRODUCTION
Water is rapidly becoming an important commodity and it is necessary that urban centres
maintain high water quality to mitigate impact upon downstream communities. Subsequently
urban centres need to take the initiative and be proactive in protecting priority watersheds
affected by urban activities. Management practices have been established to reduce
contaminants from entering the watershed via stormwater by the increasing utilization of
retention ponds. These retention ponds are known to be effective for water quality
improvement and storm flow management. However the resulting sediment in the ponds
requires periodic maintenance to retain water treatment efficiency. Knowledge of retention
pond sediment composition is limited within literature, however urban runoff generally
contains contaminants which include sediment, nutrients, metals, salt, and hydrocarbons (The
City of Calgary, 2000; EPA, 1993a). This is particularly important as the extent of
contamination will directly affect the potential maintenance and disposal options of the
sediment.
The primary objective of this thesis was to provide a base of knowledge on the contaminant
concentrations within the sediment in a variety of ponds receiving stormwater from differing
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SAMPLING EVENTS
All samples were collected from February 24 to 26, 2004 during the winter freeze. Sediment
samples were collected in mid-winter which allowed the samples to be more accurately
obtained and mapped. Additionally, winter collection avoided disturbance of the sediments
that might occur if accessed by boat (paddle or poling action) and avoided drifting that would
occur when utilizing a boat. Discrete grab samples were collected at even intervals from the
inlet to the outlet of the pond, following the main flow path, which was determined from the
facility design plans. Grab samples were collected using an Eckman dredge, and appropriately
preserved and kept on ice.
METHODS
All of the parameters were analysed using standard methods.
Total solids, fixed solids and volatile solids: Method 2540G (APHA, 1998)
Particle size distribution by laser diffraction (Malvern Instruments, 1998)
Heavy Metal Concentrations were digested using the Method 3050B (EPA, 1996a)
and analysed using ICP/MS and ICP/OES
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen was digested following the Method 351.2 (EPA, 1993b) and
subsequently analyzed by Semiautomated Colorimetry
Total Phosphorus was digested using EPA Method 351.2 (EPA, 1993b) and
subsequently analysed by Semiautomated Colorimetry
Petroleum Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography (CCME, 2001)
Paint Filter Test: Method 9095A (EPA, 1996b)
Electrical conductivity, pH and chloride were analysed for all samples using field
probes
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RESULTS
Solids
The average total solids concentration of each pond was found to be 44.10 %, 30.34 %, 44.40
%, 41.83 % and 38.48 % for Deerfoot Trail & 22X pond, 68 Street SE retention lake,
Edgemont wetland, Harvest lake and 61 Ave SE Duck pond respectively. The highest average
volatile solids concentration determined was 4.5 % for 61 Ave SE Duck pond, which is well
below both sediment and organic soil thresholds.
80
70
70
70
60
60
50
40
30
20
60
50
40
30
20
10
10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
sand
clay
50
40
30
20
10
0
20
60
100
140
silt
200
290
470
650
830
980 1040
sand
clay
7.5
70
70
60
60
50
40
30
20
10
26
silt
55
B: 68 St SE retention pond
80
140
sand
clay
silt
C: Edgemont wetland
50
40
30
20
10
0
30
50
70
90
sand
clay
D: Harvest lake
silt
20
40
60
80
100
120
sand
clay
140
silt
Figure 1. Particle fraction (%) of each fraction for sand (> 50 microns), silt (50 2 microns)
and clay (< 2 microns)
Metals
The main summary of the analysed chemical constituents with their respective guidelines are
displayed in Table 1. Chromium, copper and lead mean concentrations exceeded guidelines in
61 Ave SE Duck pond while cadmium and zinc mean concentrations exceed guidelines in
both 61 Ave SE Duck pond and 68 St SE retention lake. Cadmium (F0.05,4,13 = 14.11),
chromium (F0.05,4,13 = 6.65), copper (F0.05,4,13 = 13.17), lead (F0.05,4,13 = 45.82), and zinc
(F0.05,4,13 = 15.67) concentrations were determined to be significantly higher in 61 Ave SE
Duck pond compared to the remainder of the sites. Additionally, cadmium (F0.05,3,11 = 9.55)
and zinc (F0.05,3,11 = 19.59) concentrations were determined to be significantly higher in 68 St
SE retention lake.
(mg/kg)
Arsenic
12
Barium
750
Cadmium
1.4
Chromium
64
Hexavalent
Chromium
0.4
Copper
63
Lead
70
Nickel
50
Thallium
Vanadium
130
Zinc
200
Deerfoot
Trail &
22X
68 St SE
retention
lake
Edgemont
wetland
Harvest
lake
Mean = 5
Max = 6
Mean = 227
Max = 250
Mean = 0.6
Max = 0.8
Mean = 16
Max = 21
Mean = 7
Max = 8
Mean = 263
Max = 310
Mean = 1.6
Max = 2.1
Mean =33
Max = 38
Mean = 7
Max = 7
Mean = 315
Max = 330
Mean = 1.1
Max = 1.7
Mean = 27
Max = 31
Mean = 5
Max = 9
Mean = 311
Max = 339
Mean = 0.8
Max = 1.0
Mean = 21
Max = 23
Mean = 16
Max = 22
Mean = 11
Max = 14
Mean = 21
Max = 31
Mean = 0
Max = 0
Mean = 23
Max = 29
Mean = 85
Max = 118
Mean = 41
Max = 48
Mean = 59
Max = 78
Mean = 27
Max = 29
Mean = 0
Max = 0
Mean = 30
Max = 39
Mean= 281
Max = 347
Mean = 29
Max = 33
Mean = 20
Max = 25
Mean = 32
Max = 33
Mean = 0
Max = 0
Mean = 31
Max = 32
Mean = 178
Max = 233
Mean = 22
Max = 27
Mean = 15
Max = 18
Mean = 25
Max = 29
Mean = 0
Max = 0
Mean = 24
Max = 26
Mean = 124
Max = 155
61 Ave SE
Duck
pond
Mean = 5
Max = 6
Mean = 310
Max = 375
Mean = 49
Max = 64
Mean = 205
Max = 352
Mean = 0.01
Max = 0.02
Mean = 69
Max = 89
Mean = 96
Max = 106
Mean = 31
Max = 38
Mean =1
Max = 1
Mean = 29
Max = 34
Mean = 945
Max = 1220
Nutrients
With respect to nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus were examined. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen
(TKN) and total phosphorus (TP) were measured (Table 2) as they are macronutrients which
predominantly influence nutrient loading and limit biological activity.
Table 2. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations of dredge samples per
sampling location
Sample ID
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
Total Phosphorus
(mg/kg)
(mg/kg)
Deerfoot Trail & 22X
1680.14
1134.60
68 St SE retention lake
3332.27
1185.81
Edgemont Wetland
1717.50
1346.24
Harvest lake
1756.62
739.84
61 Ave SE Duck pond
1661.43
1648.63
Hydrocarbons
The averages of F2 (C10-C16) and F3 (C16-C34) concentrations (mg/kg) of each pond were
found to be 0.49, 140.75; 1.23, 1923.12; 0.68, 569.11; 0.22, 279.02 and 1.14, 1893.51 for
Deerfoot Trail & 22X pond, 68 Street SE retention lake, Edgemont wetland, Harvest lake and
61 Ave SE Duck pond respectively. For all sites, the average concentration and ranges were
well below the CCME agricultural soil guideline for the F2 hydrocarbon fraction of 900
mg/kg. With respect to the F3 fraction the average concentrations for 68 St SE retention pond
and 61 Ave SE Duck pond exceed the allowable CCME F3 hydrocarbon concentration of 800
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DISCUSSION
The primary objective was to determine the presence and concentration of contaminants in
order to understand the extent of contamination of accumulated sediment within the retention
ponds. Consequently each parameter was evaluated against the CCME agricultural soil
guideline as a baseline comparison, as well as evaluated against literature.
The parameters that exceeded the CCME guidelines in every pond were EC and SAR. This
indicates that all of the retention ponds within The City of Calgary have contamination
problems with salinity and sodicity regardless of the catchment area differences. This is
potentially due to the widespread usage of road salts (sodium chloride and calcium chloride)
for winter road maintenance (The City of Calgary, 2006c). This illustrates that salt is the
primary contaminant of concern for cold climate urban environments. In addition, the
remaining parameters varied between retention ponds illustrating differences due to
catchment area contributions.
It was observed that of all the metals evaluated within this study only cadmium, chromium,
copper, lead and zinc accumulated sufficiently to exceed the baseline levels. Moreover the
contaminant of greatest concern within the ponds was cadmium. Literature reports of
background soil levels (mg/kg) within Alberta are known to be 0.16, 0.01, 20, 12 and 74 for
cadmium, chromium, copper lead and zinc respectively (Knight & Klassen, 2005) This
illustrates anthropogenic sources are contributing to the contaminant loading of the sediment.
Cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc concentrations were subsequently compared to
the studies including Kadlec and Knight, 1996; Heal, 1999; Yousef et al., 1994a,b; Vymazal
and Krasa, 2003; Marsalek and Marsalek, 1997; Marsalek et al., 1999; Mallin et al., 2002 and
Kamalakkannan et al., 2004. The metal concentrations in sediments from other urban
retention pond studies have found concentrations (mg/kg) to range between 0.051-53.0
(cadmium), 0.97-128.0 (chromium), 0.45-1441 (copper), 1.5-1047 (lead) and 1.0-779 (zinc).
These studies encompass a diverse urban environment including residential, parkland,
commercial, roadways and light industrial similar to the urban land uses examined within this
study. These concentrations illustrate two important points. Firstly all of the retention ponds
within this study had comparable concentrations to those observed in other urban retention
pond sediments, with the exception of 61 Ave SE Duck pond. Secondly the ranges found in
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CONCLUSIONS
All the retention ponds within the study were deemed to be contaminated as they
exceeded criteria for one or more of the following parameters: salt, cadmium,
chromium, copper, lead, zinc, and/or F3 fraction hydrocarbons
A strong positive relationship was found between heavy metals, F3 fraction
hydrocarbons and phosphorus when correlated to finer particulates. However this was
only observed at higher contamination concentrations.
A primary sedimentation area or forebay displayed useful characteristics in sediment
disposal. Although these would require more frequent maintenance, due to sediment
volume, the sediment removed from these forebays would ultimately have a lower
concentration of contamination. The lower concentration is due to the greater volume
accumulations, higher proportion of large particulates and the lower contamination
association with the large particulate sediment, which could potentially lower disposal
costs.
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