Field Performance of an Innovative Downpipe Roof Runoff Treatment System: Effect of Roof Material, Stormwater Characteristics, and System Age on Heavy Metals Removal
Jessika Souza de Carvalho, Ricardo Bello-Mendoza, Aisling O’Sullivan
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Abstract
Metal roofs are common in urban areas due to their cost-effectiveness and durability, yet stormwater runoff from building roofs is a major contributor of heavy metals to urban waterways. This study investigated the field performance of a downpipe treatment system (DPTS) using waste seashells to remove aluminium, zinc, and copper from roof runoff. First-flush runoff samples were collected before and after treatment during 30 events over 18 months. Results showed that Zn (85–97%) and Cu (59%) in runoff were predominantly dissolved, while Al (71–90%) was mainly particulate. Metal concentrations were largely influenced by the roof material, and weak correlations were observed with climate characteristics. The DPTS effectively removed particulate metals from copper (76 ± 48% Cu, 80 ± 41% Al) and galvanised (75 ± 49% Zn, 74 ± 27% Al) roof runoff. It also removed dissolved metals from Zincalume® (53 ± 32% Zn, 60 ± 30% Al) and Aluminium (96 ± 5% Zn) roof runoff, sustaining performance over 542 days of operation. Metal removal was linked to initial concentrations, partitioning, and metal affinity for the filter media, with precipitation, where metals formed insoluble compounds, and adsorption, where metals bound to the surface of the shells, as potential mechanisms. This study demonstrates that repurposing waste seashells in roof runoff treatment offers a low-cost, scalable and easily retrofittable solution for treating heavy metal pollution at its source, directly supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).
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Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments.
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Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.
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