Water Runoff

What is water runoff?

Water runoff is the water that that runs over the ground when it rains. This water can end up in lakes, rivers or streams after running through storm drains or other waterways. Water runoff is a large source of water pollution. In states where large amounts of snowfall accumulate, a large amount water runoff happens in the spring when the snow melts, and everything that was in the snow over the winter runs down the storm drains with the water. Water runoff does occur naturally, but the addition of chemicals and numerous pollutants makes it a notable issue.

What are some effects of runoff?

When water runs over driveways, lawns, streets and sidewalks, it can collect pollutants and bring it in to larger bodies of water. This includes anything that leaks from a car such as coolant or oil, pesticides that are sprayed on lawns, litter that is thrown to the side of the road and much more. Agriculture is a large source of runoff pollution because of the large amounts of fertilizer and pesticides used to keep the crops healthy and free from insects.

How can we reduce water runoff pollution?

We can reduce water runoff pollution in a number of ways. Agricultural areas can decrease the amount of fertilizer and pesticides used on crops. We can also plant more trees because they prevent runoff from going in to larger bodies of water and streams. We can also make sure that our vehicles are not leaking any fluids and stop throwing trash on the side of the road. Soil naturally absorbs the water and cleans out many pollutants, so urbanization is not helping control runoff at all. Sidewalks and roads only allow the storm water to run in to storm drains, so what can we do in urban environments? One option is to build a rain garden which will absorb a lot of the water that be in your yard after a storm.

Sources

1. When It Rains, It Pours: The Effects of Stormwater Runoff. (2018, April 03). Retrieved from https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/04/03/stormwater-runoff-rain-flood/

2. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cwp.org/reducing-stormwater-runoff/

3. National Geographic Society. (2012, October 09). Runoff. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/runoff/