Heavy Metal ConcentrationsHeavy Metal Concentrations in Urban Runoff in Urban Runoff

Las Vegas, NMLas Vegas, NM

By Bruceline Fru& Dr. Edward Martinez

Introduction The GR. meets 95% of the domestic water needs of the city

of Las Vegas and supports a wide variety of aquatic life.

Most of these studies found water degradation attributed to chemical loading from the geology which underlie a large part of the Gallinas watershed.

The Goal of this Presentation is to aid in establishing Best Management Practices for reducing the volume and the concentrations of pollutants in runoff from the city of Las Vegas.

Results

Elements Actual (μg/l)

EPA Standards

(μg/l)Pb 52.8 15 - 2.5

Cu 42 9

Cr 156 100 - 11

Zn 563.3 120

TSS 315, 240 (mg/L)

45 mg/L

Results indicate higher concentrations of some metals above standards set by United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2003 e.g.

Policy RecommendationChanging the policy of direct discharge and

incorporating the following elements of Best Management Practices and landscape designs:

Increase the frequency of street sweeping and educate the public on litter disposal on streets.

Create filter areas around fueling premises.

Require all new and redevelopment projects to implement Post-Construction Management Practices (BMPs).

Specific examples include: Infiltration basin, ponds, wetlands, Open Channels,

vegetative swales, filters adjacent to parking lots and silt fences in construction areas.

6

PondsPonds

WetlandsWetlands

FiltersFilters InfiltrationInfiltration

Center for Watershed Protection

Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices

Silt Fence

InfiltrationPondsOpen ChannelsSwales

AcknowledgementsDr. Edward Martinez (Supervisor)Carmen Lopez (Ben Lujan Leadership and

Public Policy Institute)Dr. Andrew Feldman (For arranging this

meeting)

Take Home Info:“WHAT WE NEED TO GET ACROSS IS THAT EVERYONE’S SMALL ACTIONS HAVE GREATER IMPACT DOWNSTREAM” REBECCA R. WODDERREBECCA R. WODDER

Thank you “QUESTIONS”