Dynamic transport of sewer sediments and water quality transformation characteristics under different rainfall intensities

ZHANG Jin; SHI Xuan; CHEN Xiao-qing; HAN Jian-shuang; JIN Peng-kang; SONG Ji-na

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China Environmental Science ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5) : 2503-2512.

Dynamic transport of sewer sediments and water quality transformation characteristics under different rainfall intensities

ZHANG Jin¹, SHI Xuan², CHEN Xiao-qing¹, HAN Jian-shuang³, JIN Peng-kang², SONG Ji-na¹

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Abstract

The scouring of sediment deposits in sewer system constitutes a critical factor in overflow pollution. By integrating rainfall intensity variations, stratified anti-scouring characteristics, and dynamic pollutant transport, a dynamic transport model was developed to evaluate stratified sediment scouring under different rainfall intensities and its impact on water quality transformation. Experimental results demonstrate significant disparities in sediment scouring efficacy across varying rainfall intensities. Under light rainfall conditions, the scouring rate measured 6.04m³/h, primarily removing superficial sediment layers. Moderate and heavy rainfall events induced substantial enhancement of flow shear forces, with pipe discharge reaching 71.08m³/h during intense precipitation, capable of mobilising larger particles from underlying sediment strata. A pronounced "initial phase effect" was observed across all rainfall intensities, characterised by rapid pollutant concentration peaking during precipitation onset. Under heavy rainfall, sulphate concentrations surged to 17.89mg/L within 1min before stabilising at 8.95mg/L, while Total Chemical Oxygen Demand (TCOD) exhibited a swift ascent to 2106.3mg/L followed by stabilisation at 1056.6mg/L. In contrast, light rainfall conditions yielded markedly lower peak values of 10.29mg/L for SO₄^2- and 1100.60mg/L for TCOD, though similarly demonstrating rapid initial concentration escalation followed by gradual stabilisation.

Key words

pipeline sediments / pollutant model / rainfall intensity / scouring transport / sewer systems

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ZHANG Jin, SHI Xuan, CHEN Xiao-qing, HAN Jian-shuang, JIN Peng-kang, SONG Ji-na. Dynamic transport of sewer sediments and water quality transformation characteristics under different rainfall intensities[J]. China Environmental Science. 2025, 45(5): 2503-2512

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