Outdated stormwater guidelines may lead to underperforming pollution treatment measures.
Urban stormwater runoff in South-east Queensland was studied to understand pollutant concentrations and nitrogen composition. Results showed that pollutant levels were lower than expected, suggesting current guidelines may be outdated. Nitrogen in runoff from urban areas is mainly in the form of Total Kjeldahl nitrogen, with organic nitrogen removal potentially needed for effective treatment. This research provides new insights for managing stormwater pollution in urban residential areas.