DECONTAMINATION OF HIGHWAY SURFACE RUNOFF IN THE FRG

In the past, the location of detention basins along highways was considered to be necessary, only when the highways passed through water resource conservation areas. In this way, primarily the danger of water resources, being contaminated by "oil accidents" was to be met. Recently, however, it has been recognized, that in order to protect water resources, basins must be constructed to contain the many toxic pollutants in surface water run-off from roads. The investigation of the efficiency of three different types of basins showed that, when properly dimensioned, a detention basin can discharge an effluent in which the concentrations of hazardous substances, originating from motor vehicle traffic, have been reduced by 50% to 80% through sedimentation and separation processes. Thus, quality requirements for discharges into natural bodies of water can be adhered to. © 1990.