Abstract:The research object was chosen to be four typical drainage systems in the central urban area of Shanghai (two separate and two combined systems). Minute level water quality online monitoring data was used as the support, to examine the features and first flush effect of overflow pollution on water quality in various drainage systems under diverse rainfall conditions, using COD and NH3-N as the main indicators.The results showed that the first flush effect of COD and NH3-N water quality indicators were more pronounced in the diversion system; Moreover, the first flush effect of COD indicators was more pronounced under light rain conditions in separate flow systems and heavy rain conditions in combined flow systems; Both moderate and heavy rain conditions in separate and combined flow systems exhibited the first flush effect of NH3-N indicators.