{"id":6682,"date":"2019-07-04T10:24:36","date_gmt":"2019-07-04T10:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aquaread.com\/?p=6682"},"modified":"2023-11-15T11:44:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T11:44:44","slug":"how-does-urban-runoff-affect-water-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aquaread.com\/blog\/how-does-urban-runoff-affect-water-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Urban Runoff Affect Water Quality?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Urban runoff may be a term that not everyone is familiar with, but at the same time, anyone who has lived in a town or city will likely have experienced it at least once in their lifetime.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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It is also not to be underestimated. It is one of the biggest threats to daily life, homes and wildlife. Read on to learn more about urban runoff and how it can affect water quality in your area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is Urban Runoff?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Urbanization refers to the way our towns and cities have been developed. This includes roads, buildings and other man-made creations. Urban runoff is a consequence of rainwater and these man-made objects. When it rains heavily or for long periods, rainwater can accumulate on the surface of roads, rooftops and along pathways. This is known within the flood-preparation industry as urban runoff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Risks of Urban Runoff<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When urban runoff exists, it causes two major concerns for local residents. One of these concerns is an increased risk of flooding. If the rainwater cannot easily escape down drains or becomes too rapid for the drains to effectively manage, it remains on the surface and begins to accumulate. This leads to the damage of buildings and in extreme cases, people can lose their homes and possessions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The second risk associated with urban runoff is water pollution. Urban runoff can negatively affect the quality of water. In normal rainstorms where urban runoff does not occur, the rainwater passes through the soil.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, impervious urban surfaces prevent this from happening and carry the rainwater to storm drains. This water picks up pollutants on the way such as motor oil, fertilizers, metals, dirt, pesticides<\/a> and more. This is the beginning of a hazardous cycle that includes:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n