3
EXAMPLES OF OUTFLOWS
Out
fl
ows attributable to a rainwater event can occur across a number of
different environments.
These include:
• Agricultural runoff
• Industrial sites
• Construction sites
• Irrigation runoff
• Parking lots and pavement
• Other
While illicit discharges of various chemical constituents into stormwater drains
represent a portion of the overall problem, these are not normally de
fi
ned as
stormwater events. These out
fl
ows can contain a wide variety of both inorganic
and organic contaminants, and must be considered when characterizing the
source of out
fl
ow. Inorganic constituents can often provide an indicator of such
out
fl
ows when used in a manner that takes all indicators into account.
Where there are questions and concerns, either generated through the use
of inorganic indicators, or when there are suspicions regarding organic
contaminants, samples should be sent for further analysis.
While individual test measurements can be effectively used for screening
out
fl
ows, long term trends are important after establishing baseline values for
inorganic indicators (and organic indicators as needed).
MAKING MEASUREMENTS
Colorimetric
Colorimetric methods are based on measuring the intensity of color of a
colored target chemical or reaction product. The optical absorbance is
measured using light of a suitable wavelength. The concentration is determined
by means of a calibration curve obtained using known concentrations of the
determinant.
Turbidimetric
Turbidimetric methods (also known as nephelometry) use an instrument
for measuring the concentration of suspended particulates in a liquid. A
nephelometer (turbidimeter) measures suspended particulates by employing
a light beam (source beam) and a light detector set to one side (90 degrees)
and/or directly opposite (180 degrees) the source beam. Particle density is
then a function of the light re
fl
ected and/or directed into the detectors from the
particles.
Titrimetric
In volumetric titration, chemicals are analyzed by titration with a standardized