150 likes | 273 Views
SPN7. 7 th International Conference on Sewer Processes & Networks. SEWER MISCONNECTIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES: ARE THEY A SERIOUS PROBLEM? J Bryan Ellis Urban Pollution Research Centre, Middlesex University, UK. Sheffield, August 2013. Surface Water Sewers in England and Wales.
E N D
SPN7. 7th International Conference on Sewer Processes & Networks SEWER MISCONNECTIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES: ARE THEY A SERIOUS PROBLEM? J Bryan Ellis Urban Pollution Research Centre, Middlesex University, UK. Sheffield, August 2013
Downstream changes in NH3-N and PO4 in an urban catchment, River Colne, Oxhey, Herts. River Classification Grade C/D
MISCONNECTION SOURCES • household/commercial premise misconnections (greywater and blackwater) • connection of industrial/commercial floor drains to surface water drainage system • abuse of surface water drainage system e.g illegal disposal of solvents, paints etc; vehicle jet-washing; wash-down of cafe/restaurant frontages/courtyards etc; illegal dumping • failing septic tanks. • dual/shared manhole chamber overflows—cross-connection rather than misconnection (??)
MISCONNECTION DATA AND TRENDS • NATIONAL DATA • - CES (1999); >1M; ~29% of all connections) • Defra (2007); 1.35M (~7M properties; £235M/year; >7% misconnection rate) • Defra (2009); 300,000 – 500,000 (3% - 5% misconnection rate) • UKWIR (2013); 130,000 – 140,000 (<1% misconnection rate; £190M) • REGIONAL DATA • Thames Water (2010); 1.2M or 3% - 5%. (Based on 1 :10/20 misconnection rate; £78 - £104M reconnection cost + survey + enforcement notice) • SITE SURVEY DATA • - Moston Brook, Manchester (2013); 1.5km2 ; 1700 population; ~24% misconnections) • Brent, N London (2008); 30km2 ; 236,464 population; >7% misconnection rate; £10.4M
Actual Pollution Potential of Domestic Properties in Thames Water Region <0.01% misconnection rate
Domestic Misconnections by Type
Estimated Misconnection Wastewater Volumes and Pollution Loads Entering Thames Region Surface Waters
EXTRAPOLATING MISCONNECTION DATA BOD = [(POPt/Hn) x (Ma/Hn) x La x Hn] where: BOD = B OD in kg/day POPt = Total Population of catchment Hn = Number of occupants per household/property Ma = Number of each type of misconnected appliance (as determined from site survey) Hn = Total number of households/properties in survey La = BOD loading for each appliance (kg/person/day) OR BOD = [POPt x (Ma/Hn) x L i.e estimate is independent of the number of occupants per property.
CONCLUSIONS • Site surveys required to give accurate estimation of misconnection numbers and severity of impact. National estimations deflate likely potential scale and costs of the misconnection problem. • Misconnection rates likely to vary between average minimum of 1% to mean of 3% and average maximum of 7%. Hotspots greater than 12% - 24% can occur with observable receiving water impacts where SWOs discharge in groups or in series along an urban reach as demonstrated by N:P ratios. Need for robust and tested catchment scale extrapolation techniques to adequately quantify WFD receiving water risks. • Source tracking and compliance procedures need to be more stringent and without need to resort to third party engagement. • Need for twin-track approach with misconnection remediation (“clean-up”) in conjunction with long term “preventative” community-based programmes/campaigns of both public and professional trade knowledge and awareness. • Surface water misconnections likely to be a continued issue for urban drainage and urban receiving water quality in the UK into the foreseeable future.