Reducing Urban Runoff

What is Urban Runoff?

• Increased surface runoff of precipitation in urban areas

• When urban areas go out of control

• Water cycle consequence

• When buildings leave town due to underpopulation

Why do urban areas have more runoff

• high levels of non-porous surfaces

• air pollution

• urban heat island

• dense human population

What is a negative of permeable pavement?

• Specially designed to allow stormwater to infiltrate & recharge ground water

• Decreases runoff, decreasing pollutants carried into storm drains & into local surface water

• Decreases likelihood of flooding during heavy rainfall

• More costly than traditional pavement

Rain Gardens reduce urban runoff by

• Capturing surface runoff and allowing it to infiltrate into the soil

• providing pollinator habitat

• Increasing the beauty of urban areas

• storing CO2

Why does public transit reduce urban runoff consequences (can select multiple)

• reduces air and water pollution from cars

• reduces need for roads and parking spaces

• cheaper than owning a car

• IDK

What is a consequence of sediment in runoff

• increased turbinity

• suffocates fish

• kills non-target organisms

• air pollution