Discover the Importance of Stormwater Management
According to research, stormwater management is the effort that aims at decreasing and changing the direction of rainwater or melted snow from urban areas, streets, and houses to enhance the quality of water. Additionally, it assists in altering the adverse effects of urban and rural stormwater flooding brought about by agriculture and human activities like constructions. Stormwater comes from rainwater is melted snow or ice. Ideally, the stormwater is supposed to penetrate the ground or evaporate. However, in habitats such as forests, the soil takes in a lot of stormwater, and the plants help to hold a considerable amount of stormwater, making sure that less water escapes. In urban areas, there are few plants and the pavements and surfaces have been built in a way to allow little or no water to penetrate the ground. This results in increased surface runoff, and this is where stormwater management comes in mainly to reduce rainwater runoff melted snow from the streets, lawns, and urban areas.
Stormwater management helps in maintaining the natural hydrologic cycle. Stormwater management plays a vital role in maintaining healthy streams, lakes, and aquatic life and also preserving the natural hydrologic cycle. If we do not have effective stormwater management, penetration can decrease, and this lowers the replenishment of the soil and groundwater recharge. Bear in mind that the moisture of the soil is vital in preserving vegetation. The reduction of groundwater recharge can lower the base flow in streams that protects aquatic life. Stormwater management assists in replenishing underground water and ensures that human beings have enough water for domestic and agricultural usage.
Stormwater management helps to lower flood risks. Efficient stormwater management ensures that floods are in check. Areas that have adapted stormwater management experience a low risk of flooding, and therefore they are less likely to encounter the adverse effects of flooding. Urban areas and those with less vegetation will possibly experience flooding when it heavily rains unless effective management techniques are used. Regions that do not have effective water stormwater management techniques will suffer the loss of life and property damage because of floods.
Stormwater helps to prevent stream erosion. When you decrease the speed and amount of water that flows into the streams, stormwater management will assist in preventing excessive soil erosion. When stormwater is not managed correctly, it can bring about erosion, which may hinder the stream from accomplishing its normal function of transporting water and sediments. If there is no stormwater management, stormwater can flood streams and rivers, and it will affect the life of the surrounding community. When a stream floods, it’s banks will break, and the excess water will flow to the neighboring farms, and this will destroy the crops.
Stormwater helps to protect water quality. Stormwater management has a vital role in maintaining water quality. Contaminants like grease, oil, and pesticides from gardens tend to accumulate on surfaces. Without proper management of stormwater, it transports the contaminant to water bodies like oceans, lakes, and groundwater. Urban areas have high pollution where pavement deterioration, tire and brake pad wear, emissions, and spills from cars can penetrate to water sources. When you use stormwater management systems, some of the pollutants can be eliminated before the water flows into the streams.
