How does urban development and storm water runoff impact water quality?
Urban development impacts water quality in a number of ways. First, prior to construction, ground cover is usually completely removed, thereby exposing the soil surface to wind and water erosion. Second, heavy machinery compacts and hardens soils, diminishing its ability to absorb and filter water, even after it has been re-planted in grass or other vegetation. Third, with development comes replacing what was once vegetation with the hard surfaces of streets, driveways, parking lots and roofs. Hard surfaces shed water. As a result, the water that once was absorbed and filtered through the soil is now shed directly into our streets, storms sewers and into the receiving waters of lakes and streams with out any treatment. What pollutants are contained in urban runoff? Sediment from construction sites, nutrients from lawns, bacteria, grit and hydrocarbons from streets and parking lots are primary pollutants of urban runoff. Often raccoons and other animals live in storm sewers and their fe
Urban development impacts water quality in a number of ways. First, prior to construction, ground cover is usually completely removed, thereby exposing the soil surface to wind and water erosion. Second, heavy machinery compacts and hardens soils, diminishing its ability to absorb and filter water, even after it has been re-planted in grass or other vegetation. Third, with development comes replacing what was once vegetation with the hard surfaces of streets, driveways, parking lots and roofs. Hard surfaces shed water. As a result, the water that once was absorbed and filtered through the soil is now shed directly into our streets, storms sewers and into the receiving waters of lakes and streams with out any treatment. What pollutants are contained in urban runoff? Sediment from construction sites, nutrients from lawns, bacteria, grit and hydrocarbons from streets and parking lots are primary pollutants of urban runoff. Often raccoons and other animals live in storm sewers and their fe
