Runoff First Flush: Fact or Fiction?

 

 

“The term 'first flush' has become more or less a given in stormwater quality issues, despite the fact that studies vary on its prevalence or regularity,” write Steve Burgon and Juliet Howe in the July-August 2010 issue of Stormwater Magazine.

The article describes the monitoring program by Salt Lake County, Utah, to find out if a first flush does indeed exist in their region and, if so, how that might impact considerations for potential stormwater treatment systems.

“In Salt Lake County, it does not appear that a strong first flush exists, which, for now, means ruling out an exclusively first-flush-treatment strategy,” conclude the authors.  They also noted that “the absence of a strong first flush in Salt Lake County follows suit with results from studies in other areas of the country and abroad.”

 

Acknowledgement:

Before STORMWATER, The Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals, there was no single publication written specifically for  the professional involved with surface water quality issues, protection, projects, and programs.

 

Posted July 2010