Research Note: Mapping spatial patterns in sewer age, material, and proximity to surface waterways to infer sewer leakage hotspots

《Research Note: Mapping spatial patterns in sewer age, material, and proximity to surface waterways to infer sewer leakage hotspots》

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关键字: Urban stream; Sanitation; Stream burial; Sewer leakage; Hotspot mapping; UNITED-STATES; STREAMS; URBANIZATION; WATERSHEDS

作者单位: [Hopkins, Kristina G.] US Geol Survey, Eastern Geog Sci Ctr, 521 Natl Ctr, Reston, VA 20192 USA. [Bain, Daniel J.] Univ Pittsburgh, Dept Geol & Environm Sci, SRCC, 4107 OHara St,Room 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA. Hopkins, KG (reprint author), US Geol Survey, Eastern Geog Sci Ctr, 521 Natl Ctr, Reston, VA 20192 USA. E-Mail: khopkins@usgs.gov; dbain@pitt.edu

摘要: Identifying areas where deteriorating sewer infrastructure is in close proximity to surface waterways is needed to map likely connections between sewers and streams. We present a method to estimate sewer installation year and deterioration status using historical maps of the sewer network, parcel-scale property assessment data, and pipe material. Areas where streams were likely buried into the sewer system were mapped by intersecting the historical stream network derived from a 10-m resolution digital elevation model with sewer pipe locations. Potential sewer leakage hotspots were mapped by identifying where aging sewer pipes are in close proximity (50-m) to surface waterways. Results from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA), indicated 41% of the historical stream length was lost or buried and the potential interface between sewers and streams is great. The co-location of aging sewer infrastructure ( > 75 years old) near stream channels suggests that 42% of existing streams are located in areas with a high potential for sewer leakage if sewer infrastructure fails. Mapping the sewer-stream interface provides an approach to better understand areas where failing sewers may contribute a disproportional amount of nutrients and other pathogens to surface waterways.