Abstract
Growth in population and urbanization has progressively increased the loadings of pollutants from non-point sources as well as point sources. Therefore, it is necessary to manage both point and non-point sources contaminations for protecting water environment and improving water quality. This study investigated the characteristics of pollutant release over a wide range of rainfall intensities as a requisite to control road runoff that accounts for the largest portion of non-point source contamination in urban areas. Samples of runoff rainwater collected from real road surfaces were analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as pH, suspended solids, and heavy metals. A experimental model road ($30cm{\times}30cm$) was also used to evaluate wash-off properties of pollutants deposited on the surface as functions of time and rainfall intensity. Analysis of runoff samples on rain events showed that the pollutant wash-off patterns for heavy metal and suspended solids were similar. This implies that the particles in rainwater adsorb heavy metals. Experiments using the model road made of impervious asphalt demonstrate a strong first flush phenomenon. At high rainfall intensity, approximately 80% of total pollutants were released within 15 min. The pollutant wash-off rates rapidly increase from 9 mm/hr to 12 mm/hr of rainfall intensity and decrease over 12 mm/hr of rainfall intensity.