Managing urban non-point source pollution has become a focus of environmental management as point source pollution is better controlled. Previous studies of nutrient enrichment in urban streams have identified several potential indicators of phosphorus loading, including watershed characteristics such as presence of riparian buffers, percent impervious surface, and the presence of construction sites. Socio-economic characteristics have been shown to be good predictors of fertilizer use and lawn care practices and may therefore also prove effective predictors of nutrient runoff in urban areas. However, socio-economic characteristics of residential neighbourhoods have not yet been investigated as possible predictors of phosphorus runoff in urban catchments. We examine streams flowing through predominantly urban residential catchments in the Greater Montreal area, Quebec and compare the usefulness of land cover, land use and demographic data as predictors of phosphorus loading.

Results/Conclusions

Preliminary examination of data shows a 30% increase in stream phosphorus concentration when average household income increases from $60,000/yr to $90,000/yr. Stream phosphorus concentration increases another 90% when average household income rises to $120,000/yr. In each case, impervious surface cover only increases 10% suggesting that demographic and lifestyle behaviour data, along with watershed land cover and land use, may be useful for predicting phosphorus loading in urban residential neighbourhoods.