SOFIA - OFR-78-324

Stormwater runoff from urban watersheds represents an unqualified but possibly major source of contaminants to the numerous canals in south Florida. The quantification of the contaminate load from different land-use areas will assist governmental agencies involved with pollution control in evaluating alternative drainage system designs.

Figure 1. Map showing location of the residential storm-water runoff area. [larger image]

This report lists stormwater runoff data collected from a single-family residential area near Pompano Beach in Broward County, Florida (fig. 1). It is the first of a series of four basic data reports on urban stormwater studies in south Florida.

The area of the drainage basin is 41 acres of which 61 percent is pervious sod lawns and 39 percent is impervious roofs, driveways and streets. The land surface is nearly flat with a gentle, eastward slope. Storm runoff flows eastward along grass swales into a sewer collection system on the eastern boundary of the area that in turn joins a 36-inch diameter storm drain.

An automated instrumentation system installed at the site enables continuous monitoring of rainfall at three points in the basin and stage at two points in a flume located in the 36-inch diameter storm sewer. All data were recorded on an analog chart providing time-synchronous record. A sampling device consisting of a pump and sample distributor could collect as many as 24 water samples of storm runoff for water quality analyses at pre-selected time intervals during the runoff event (Smoot and other, 1974). Bulk precipitation samples were obtained from runoff samples and bulk precipitation samples were cooled to 4°C (Celsius) by a refrigeration unit.

The record period extends from April 1974 through September 1975. During this period, 231 rainfall events were recorded; 76 events were large enough to produce runoff from the basin, and 33 sets of samples were collected and analyzed. A suite of nutrients, physical characteristics and six metals were chosen for routine analysis. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and bacterial analyses were performed on samples which reached the laboratory within the four hours after collection.

All data from the study are computer stored at a one-minute interval. This includes the 33 events contained herein and an additional 43 events which do not have water-quality data. A five-minute listing interval is used in this report to facilitate modeling applications and to minimize the size of the report.

Collection of data was made possible through the cooperation of the Broward County Water Management Division and the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board.

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Urban Stormwater Runoff Data for a Residential Area, Pompano Beach, Florida