title: An investigation of roof runoff during rain events at the Royal Military College of Canada and potential discharge to Lake Ontario.
abstract: The Royal Military College of Canada, located on the north eastern shore of Lake Ontario, possesses an abundance of copper roofs and lacks surface water treatment prior to discharge into Lake Ontario. Rainwater, roof runoff and soil samples were collected and analyzed for copper and other parameters. Copper was consistently detected in runoff samples with average concentrations of 3200 +/- 2100 microg/L. Multivariable linear regression analysis for a dependant copper runoff concentration yielded an adjusted R2 value of 0.611, based on an independent variable model using minimum temperature, maximum temperature, total precipitation, and wind speed. Lake water samples taken in the vicinity of storm water outfalls draining areas with copper roofs ranged from 2.0 to 40 microg/L copper. Such data exceed the 2.0 microg/L Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life as outlined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). Analysis of raw, filtered and digested forms suggested that the majority of copper present in runoff and lake water samples was in a dissolved form. The majority of soils taken in this study displayed copper concentrations below the 63 microg/g CCME residential/parkland land use limits. These findings suggested that ion exchange processes between runoff water and soil do not occur to a sufficient extent to elevate copper levels in soil. It may therefore be concluded that the eventual fate of copper, which is not discharged via storm water outfalls, is lost to the water table and Lake Ontario through the sub-soil.
authors: Analytical Sciences Group & SLOWPOKE-2 Facility at RMC, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, 11 General Crerar Crescent, Box 17000 Station Forces, Kingston, Ontario K7K 7B4, Canada. david.kelly@rmc.ca
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Kelly
authors: Ron D
authors: RD
authors: Weir
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: White
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060106:Lakes; D009864:Ontario; D011891:Rain; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D003300:Copper