DeKalb and Fulton Counties, which share the metropolitan Atlanta area, have seen an increase in West Nile infected vector mosquitoes; the increase is associated with close proximity to combined sewer overflow facilities. Despite completion of the remediation system in 2008, the mosquito population testing positive for West Nile virus has increased each year from 2010 through 2012. Guided by the Geographical Information System framework and using spatial analysis and regression analyses, this study described and quantified the relationship between sewer system overflows and amplification of vector mosquitoes; an additional goal was to investigate their proximity to human cases of West Nile VIrus (WNV) infections. Comparing the prominence of all WNV vectors revealed how different mosquito species occupy the area. The Culex species was not detected in adult surveillance in 2012; however, the infection rate of mosquito pools increased by 15% and the human infection more than doubled. The influence of sewer system overflows became pronounced when this study analysis also identified that a proportion of West Nile-virus positive mosquito pools was significantly higher in approximately 58% of trap sites within 1 km of sewer overflow events and 30% over 1 km distance from sewer overflow events. Thus, the research contributes to shared information both in support of previous findings and considering novel sources that contribute to the proliferation of WNV. This research can help reduce the rate of WNV infection and decrease the resources needed to protect the public.

This report examined efforts to manage combined sewage overflows and create effective stormwater management plans. To provide background on the issue, a brief history of sewage management was provided, along with the legal history regarding water quality, sewage and CSOs, effects of CSOs and current green infrastructure methods for dealing with CSOs. The report then compared the efforts of three cities--Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, PA; and Chicago, IL--to improve water quality and manage CSOs and stormwater. From the examination of the efforts of these cities the author derived a list of ten recommended elements for a CSO/stormwater management plan. These recommended elements were then used to evaluate New York City's recently released sustainable stormwater management plan and its prospects for success. / text

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Geography." Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-124).

No description available.

No description available.

Trace element bioaccumulation in benthic organisms is important part of aquatic environment pollution research, since water and sediment analysis itselfs do not provide significant information about bioavailability of contaminants and the results mostly shows just current pollution at the time of sampling. This study focuses on urban streams contamination which are currently significant source of trace elements. Botic stream was chosen as exemplary, because it is affected by many combined sewer system overflows which are sources of contamination in times of heavy rain and flood. Load several sampling took place on 10 stream sites during the year of 2012. This thesis deals with 11 trace elements concretelly Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn, As, Fe, Pb and Al. Trace elements were assessed in both benthic organisms and sediment. As well taxons were selected from benthic organisms, which are widely found at any time of the reference year: caddisflies of family Hydropsychidae, leeches Erpobdella sp. and mayflies of Baetidae family. Sediment analysis included sequential extraction which divided trace elements into 4 fractions according to mobility. Based on the results, bioavailability was assessed on observed elements and correlation between concentration in bethos and sediment was tested. Finally, impact of...

The River Medlock is a small (22km) urbanised river, and is one of the five main tributaries which forms part of the River Irwell Catchment in Greater Manchester, UK. The river has a legacy of pollution from the 18th century and continues to be affected by anthropogenic factors including point source pollution from waste water treatment works (WwTWs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). In order to investigate the impact of CSOs and the WwTWs on the river hydrology, water quality and ecology of the lower largely urbanised reach, data sets were obtained from the Environment Agency and from direct sampling of the river. Load estimations from continuous discharge records from the river's gauging station plus estimates of sub-catchment area indicate the lower sites, classified as a "highly modified water body" and downstream of treatment works had had a higher load of discharge and phosphate-P linked to point sources and episodic discharges. Short term, continuous monitoring revealed that CSOs were active during high velocity, but increased concentrations of nutrients post high velocity indicate WwTW effects and possibly diffuse sources. This project reveals that the WwTW are a major source of phosphate-P and that the impact of CSOs on the river quality is short-lived and depends on the degree of precipitation. Other parameters indicate good water quality although the benthic macroinvertebrate community is degraded as a result of episodic increases in the quantity of water destabilising the river bed. Therefore, pollution from the CSOs, the WwTW and rapid changes in discharge are the reasons for the river's failure to conform to EU's requirements of the Water Framework Directive.

Low slope roofs are roofs with an inclination between 1:16 and 1:4 and have been constructed and preferred for many years due to the benefits they present. The goal of the present work is to study the following problems of low slope roofs, as they are suggested by previous relevant theses and the current needs of the market. Moisture transfer in low slope roofs with constant exposure to high levels of relative humidity. Is protection against corrosion required for steel beams placed directly under the external membranes? If yes, what kind of protection is that? Roof drainage on low slope roofs The study of the first subject was based on simulations of this type of structures in order to see how external moisture affects the moisture level and the potential for corrosion on steel beams. The main goal was to conclude whether we can actually build inverted roofs with steel plates or beams lying right under the roof membrane and what kind of protection is more appropriate to apply, in case it is required. According to the literature review conducted on roof structures, corrosion and corrosion protection, as well as the results of the simulations, the main factor defining the corrosion potential is the indoor environment. Moreover, paint coating seems to be the indicated anticorrosive protection. Regarding drainage, the study focused on the literature review of the current situation, the solutions applied, the existing regulations and guidelines regarding the type of systems used (full flow or gravity, internal or external), the construction of drainage valleys (inclined or horizontal) and the placement and dimensioning of drains and overflows, in order to create a short handbook with issues to be considered by the roof engineer. The main conclusions are that drain valleys are suggested to be constructed completely horizontal, in order to facilitate the cooperation between drains, and that full-flow systems are more efficient than gravity ones and should be preferred, as long as the roof is not exposed to solid material and prone to its accumulation around drains (e.g. roofs covered with vegetation or stone ballast, with overhanging or nearby trees).

Joniškio rajono šlapių žemių fondas yra 98341 ha. Rajone nusausinta 80524,65 ha arba 81,9 % nuo šlapių žemių fondo. Darbo tikslas: Išanalizuoti ir įvertinti melioruotų žemių, bei statinių būklę Joniškio rajono savivaldybės teritorijoje. Pagal atliktos 2006 metų inventorizacijos duomenų analizę melioruotas žemės plotas įskaitant plotą sausinamą drenažu nuo1987 metų padidėjo 1232,64 ha kas sudaro 1,55 %. Blogos būklės plotas sudaro 4490,99 ha iš kurių numatoma rekonstruoti 3190,76 ha., remontuoti 1083,04 ha. ir nurašyti 217,19 ha. Didžiausi pažeidimai melioruotame plote: užmirkęs drenuotas plotas, žemės ūkio naudmenos neveikiančio drenažo plote ir drenuotas plotas užstatytas statiniais, kur nutiesti keliai ar kitos komunikacijos. Blogai veikiančio drenažo plotas sudaro 6 % viso drenuoto žemės ploto. 2006 metų inventorizacijos duomenimis magistralinių griovių Joniškio rajone yra 1230,0 km. Bloga būklė sudaro 357,64 km., tai sudaro 29 %. Didžiausi pažeidimai: vaga užaugusi medžiais ir krūmais, vaga užnešta nešmenimis ir patvenkta vaga. Išanalizavus 2006 metų inventorizavimo duomenis paaiškėjo, kad pralaidų būklė Joniškio rajone yra bloga: 56 % jų blogos būklės. Pagrindinės pažeidimų priežastys: pažeistos vietinių įgriuvų, įgriuvę antgaliai, apirę betoniniai elementai. Šiandien, esamų melioracijos statinių vidutinis amžiaus vidurkis siekia 35 metus. Neturint lėšų, tinkamai naudoti ir prižiūrėti melioracijos statinių neimanoma, todėl jų techninė būklė sparčiai prastėja. ... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Wet territory corpus is 98341ha in Joniskis district. 80524,65 ha or 81,9 % of the wetlands fund have been reclaimed in the district. Main job goal is to inspect existing melioration building’s condition in the local government’s territory of the Joniskis district. According inventorisation data analysis accomplished in 2006 improved land’s area, including drained area become bigger from 1987, 1232,64 ha has structure 1,55 %. Quantity of building’s in bad shape has structured 4490,99 ha from which 3190,76 ha have been reconstructed, also 1083,04 ha have been reconditioned and 217,19 ha have been discarded as unusable. Most common drainage system break is influated by new buildings, roads and communication systems. The malfunction of the drainage area has structure 6 % of all land area. According inventorisation of 2006 have emerged that main roads in the Joniskis district are 1230,0 km. Bad condition has structured 357,64 km, it is 29%. Most common drainage system breaks are: the main canal, which is overgrown by trees and scrubs, also main canal is choked up by outwashes and affluented. According inventorisation were done become clear that overflows are in bad shape in the district of Joniskis city; that is 56 % of all them bad condition. The major reasons of breaks are: local failures are damaged, also the snouts are tumbled and finally the details of concrete are broke up. At present the average age of land reclamation hydraulic structures reaches 35 years. People... [to full text]

Sewage misconnections currently pose severe threats to water quality especially in urban areas in the UK. These misconnections lead to the discharge of untreated wastewater into receiving watercourses via surface water outfalls. Regular discharges from this source could lead to these watercourses failing to meet standards set by the Water Framework Directives. Despite the impacts resulting from this urban diffuse pollutant source, research into this area is limited. The study area is the River Lee, which is known to experience issues with water quality especially within the heavily urbanized lower Lee section. Misconnections are one of the major contributors to the poor water quality status of the River. In this study, the Lee was investigated using several parameters. The approach involved the monitoring of coliform bacteria to detect outfalls where misconnections were likely, then biofilm samples below selected outfalls were used for both clean and polluted sites to look for community types. Results showed severe pollution within some sections of the River particularly within the lower Lee. Pymmes Brook was used as a case study, both coliform bacteria and biofilm communities below outfalls were further investigated for clean and polluted sites. Results from the Pymmes Brook study also showed that this watercourse was experiencing severe issues with water quality, with elevated levels of coliform bacteria identified below polluted outfalls. Biofilm community data obtained during the pilot and experimental phases of study were analyzed using a range of multivariate techniques. Results of the analysis showed consistent x patterns in community structure within sites with similar water quality, with indicator species identified. Communities below polluted outfalls were composed mainly of species tolerant of organic pollution thus indicating a response of communities to misconnection discharges. Currently, the identification of misconnections are carried out through trackbacks, a process which is expensive and time consuming. During this study an inexpensive and rapid approach is proposed for assessing misconnections within a catchment. Using this method, misconnection hotspots are mapped out using coliform bacteria and biofilm communities. Using catchment data and predicted coliform bacteria from enumerated counts, misconnections within these hotspots are assessed. Having tested this approach on Pymmes Brook, a tributary of the River Lee, the results obtained were promising. Pending further verification, this system provides an economical and rapid tool for the assessment of misconnections within a catchment.