Contribution of car, truck, bus and subway washes stations discharge to storm water pollution (Toulouse, France)
Résumé
The European Water Framework Directive requires the monitoring of priority pollutants entering surface waters. This includes notably stormwater network. In this study, the contribution of discharges from washes stations to pollution of stormwater network was investigated. Six washes stations discharging wastewater into the stormwater network were selected: (i) one trucks wash station, (ii) two self-service stations for cars and motorcycles, (iii) two bus wash stations, (iv) one subway wash station. Classical parameters (conductivity, pH, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, suspended solid) and organic pollutants (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Total Hydrocarbons and Methylterbutylether) were2 checked and measured. Concentrations were compared with limit values from Greater Toulouse decontamination service regulations for the discharge licenses of carwashes, and under article 32 of the French decree for discharges into the natural environment (Decree February 2nd 29 , 1998) and with the proposal directive from the European Parliament and the Council, dealing with environmental quality standards (European Commission, 2006). The result showed a decrease of pollution downstream of the pre- treatments for subway washes stations but not for bus washes stations. According to the directives, the pre- treatment processes were not sufficient to justify a discharge into the stormwater network.