Managing urban runoff in residential neighborhoods: Nitrogen and phosphorus in lawn irrigation driven runoff

rebecca.killalea@canberra.edu.au on 16 Feb 2022
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Author(s)
Toor, G. S., Occhipinti, M. L., Yang, Y., Majcherek, T., Haver, D., & Oki, L.
Year
2017
Title
Managing urban runoff in residential neighborhoods: Nitrogen and phosphorus in lawn irrigation driven runoff
Source
PLOS ONE
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0179151
Volume
12
Issue
6
Pages
e0179151
ISSN/ISBN
1932-6203
Abstract

Sources and mechanisms of nutrient transport in lawn irrigation driven surface runoff are largely unknown. We investigated the transport of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in lawn irrigation driven surface runoff from a residential neighborhood (28 ha) of 56% impervious and 44% pervious areas. Pervious areas encompassing turfgrass (lawns) in the neighborhood were irrigated with the reclaimed water in common areas during the evening to late night and with the municipal water in homeowner's lawns during the morning. The stormwater outlet pipe draining the residential neighborhood was instrumented with a flow meter and Hach autosampler. Water samples were collected every 1-h and triple composite samples were obtained at 3-h intervals during an intensive sampling period of 1-week. Mean concentrations, over 56 sampling events, of total N (TN) and total P (TP) in surface runoff at the outlet pipe were 10.9±6.34 and 1.3±1.03 mg L-1, respectively. Of TN, the proportion of nitrate-N was 58% and other-N was 42%, whereas of TP, orthophosphate-P was 75% and other-P was 25%. Flow and nutrient (N and P) concentrations were lowest from 6:00 a.m. to noon, which corresponded with the use of municipal water and highest from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, which corresponded with the use of reclaimed water. This data suggests that N and P originating in lawn irrigation driven surface runoff from residential catchments is an important contributor of nutrients in surface waters.

Evidence

Cause Effect Response measure type Habitat Country Modified
Land use/land cover - urban
Irrigation of lawn surfaces in a residential catchment.
Water quality - suspended material/sediment
Total suspended solids concentration at outlet pipe of residential catchment. Higher concentrations of TSS often occurred with use of reclaimed water for irrigation and lower with municipal water.
Other Artificial United States 16-Feb-2022
Land use/land cover - urban
Irrigation of lawn surfaces in a residential catchment.
Water quality - nutrients (phosphorus)
Concentration of phosphorus at residential stormwater outlet pipe. Phosphorus concentration was generally lower at times when municipal water was used for irrigation within the catchment and higher when reclaimed water was used for irrigation. During the study, an event was recorded which resulted in a significant increase in TP which the author suggests was due to a substantial wetting event causing particulates to be flushed off.
Other Artificial United States 16-Feb-2022
Land use/land cover - urban
Irrigation of lawn surfaces in a residential catchment
Water quality - nutrients (nitrogen)
Concentration of nitrogen at outlet pipe. Nitrogen concentration was lowest at times when municipal water was used for irrigation within the catchment and highest when reclaimed water was used for irrigation.
Other Artificial United States 16-Feb-2022