Tracking Stormwater Quality Using Real-Time In-Situ Fluorescence
Principal Investigators: John Peckenham, Mitchell Center, University of Maine, Howard Patterson, Department of Chemistry, University of Maine and Collin Roesler, Darling Marine Center, University of Maine
Graduate Students: Jamie Pinto and Qiong Wang, Department of Chemistry, University of Maine
Stakeholder Partners
- Bangor Area Stormwater Group: Bangor representative, John Murphy; Brewer representative, Ken Locke
- Air National Guard: Lt. Col. Eric Johns
- Bangor High School: Ted Taylor
Project abstract (8/07): Communities along the lower Penobscot River in the Bangor metropolitan area need to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff to the river and its tributaries. The factors that contribute to water quality degradation are complex and hard to identify because of their transient nature. While much is being done to manage stormwater to minimize these effects, help is needed to characterize the areas most needing remediation and also to gauge the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs). Our sensor technology uses fluorescence and light scattering to characterize algae, particles, and colored organic matter. These attributes are expected to vary with storm-related nutrient availability and sediment loading so that hot-spots can be mapped in streams receiving stormwater in real-time. This is beneficial because residual effects of stormwater will change the amount and location of algae in the river and tributaries so that the locations of effects may not be fixed in space (or time). The sensor technique has already been demonstrated to be sensitive to changes in algae populations in lakes, and it can provide measurements of both organic matter and particle concentrations. In collaboration with several municipalities in the Bangor area, this project will help advance the management of stormwater effects on water quality.
