Proceedings - Teaching and Learning Centre - Simon Fraser ...

Fraser River Action Plan 3rd Research Workshop
Hydrocarbon Pollution from Urban Runoff in the Brunette River Basin
G. Larkin
Civil Engineering
University of British Columbia
The extent and severity of hydrocarbon pollution in lake core sediments, streambed sediments, street surface
sediments and stormwater were investigated in the Brunette drainage basin of Burnaby, British Columbia.
Hydrocarbon concentrations in Burnaby Lake sediments have increased tenfold since development of the region.
Aliphatic hydrocarbons of anthropogenic origin are responsible for the increase. Land use was identified as a
factor that influences the hydrocarbon concentrations, in streambed sediments, and in stream stormwater. Traffic
volumes affected concentrations in road runoff. Hydrocarbon concentrations in street sediments were quite
uniform throughout the basin and did not correlate well with land use, impermeable area or traffic density. Street
surface sediments were determined to be poor indicators of the spatial distribution of hydrocarbons in streambed
sediments or of potential loading to watercourses by stormwater. Washoff from road surfaces appeared to be an
important source of hydrocarbons to stormwater and ultimately streambed and lake sediments. Urban runoff is
an obvious target for pollution abatement measures in the Brunette watershed, such as source control or
detention.
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