Sample Size Needs for Characterizing Pollutant Concentrations in Highway Runoff

Abstract

The number of samples necessary for characterization of highway storm-water runoff concentrations is examined. Using extensive field monitoring results available from Minnesota, the statistical modeling results demonstrate that approximately 15 to 20 samples are required to provide reasonable estimates of the mean concentrations of runoff events for total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total organic carbon, and zinc.