| The problem of water quality degradation due to uncontrolled urban stormwater runoff is well documented. As more areas become urbanized, the negative impacts of urban runoff tend to increase. Almost all of the research efforts on nonpoint source pollution control focus on retrofitting problem areas with Best Management Practices (BMPs). As land develops or redevelops, it has been found that installing controls is less costly than later retrofitting development to include them. Unlike socio-economic factors, stormwater runoff quality has not been considered during most planning processes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other well known researchers in nonpoint source pollution control emphasize the need to initiate urban stormwater runoff control efforts at the planning stage to enhance water quality in a more economical fashion. This dissertation presents a sustainable development methodology to control urban stormwater runoff at the planning stage. It consists of guidelines to facilitate the selection of the most economically feasible and environmentally sound (with regard to water quality) alternative site plan. Further, the methodology provides ways of arming the chosen site plan with Control Options based on economic feasibility, legal requirements (water quality goals), and the characteristics/limitations of the area to minimize the concentration of critical pollutants of the area to a desired level. The application of the methodology is illustrated using a residential area near the Moisant Airport in Louisiana, which, due to noise impacts, is scheduled to be redeveloped into commercial and industrial uses. |
