Abstract:
This paper presents the outcomes of a research project, which focused on developing a set of
surrogate parameters to evaluate roof runoff quality using simulated rainfall. Use of surrogate parameters
to evaluate roof runoff quality has the potential to enhance the rapid generation of harvested rainwater
quality data based on on-site measurements and thereby reduce resource intensive laboratory analysis.
Pollutant buildup and washoff samples were collected from a model roof surface placed in a residential
suburb in Gold Coast, Queensland State, Australia. The collected samples were tested for a range of
physio-chemical parameters which are key indicators of nutrients, solids and organic matter. The analysis
revealed that [total dissolved solids (TDS)]; [electrical conductivity (EC),turbidity (TTU)] as appropriate
surrogate parameters for dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) and total solids (TS) respectively. No surrogate
parameters were identified for phosphorus.
