Effect of Stormwater Runoff on Combined Sewer Overflows in Korea

Kim, Lee-Hyung; Kim, Il-Kyu; Lee, Young-Sin; Lim, Kyeong-Ho

Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation 2007;7(4):107-113.
Published online October 31, 2007.

Lee-Hyung Kim, Il-Kyu Kim, Young-Sin Lee, Kyeong-Ho Lim

Abstract

The Kuem-River, one of the largest rivers in Korea, is the primary water source for more than 4 million people in Kongju city and surrounding area. To study the effect of stormwater runoff to CSOs, twelve monitoring sites were selected in two large cities (City of Kongju and City of Buyeo) near the Kuem-River. Monitoring was reformed by collecting grab samples, measuring flow rates during dry and wet seasons during over two rainy seasons. Generally the flow rate of wastewater in combined sewers was rapidly decreased after 23:00 P.M. and gradually increased from 06:30 A.M. in all sites during the dry season. The concentrations of pollutant increase approximately 5 to 7 fold for TSS and 1.5 to 2.5 fold for BOD during the rainy season. Monitoring and statistical analysis show that the groundwater contributes on sewage volume increase (average 25-45% more) during dry periods and the stormwater runoff contributes approximately 51-72% increase during rainy periods. Generally the concentrations of combined sewage were more polluted during the first flush period than after the first flush during a storm event.

Key Words: Combined sewer overflows; Pollutant loading rates; Kuem-River; Stormwater