Manage Stormwater Runoff to Prevent Flooding and Water Pollution


We all love rain and its musty smell as there is something very soothing about it. But heavy rainfall can be a problem for urban areas because it might cause waterlogging. In a natural setting, rainwater is absorbed by the soil and is drained away through natural waterways. But in cities, due to the scarcity of pervious surfaces, the natural rainwater management system does not work properly. Therefore, all the millions of gallons of water that tumble onto the ground do not find a way to reach the nearby water bodies and recharge the water table. While the urban stormwater management network tries to prevent waterlogging by diverting the stormwater runoff from the source area to the nearby water bodies, this system fails in case of heavy rainfall. Another problem with the urban stormwater management system is that it does not check the flow of dirt and pollutants which causes water pollution. After all, the runoff is incredibly good at picking up whatever comes into its way.


To prevent all the problems caused due to excess stormwater runoff in urban areas, it is pertinent to install stormwater attenuation systems in both residential and commercial complexes. Along with this, it is important to implement green infrastructure practices, such as absorbent gardens, vegetated rooftops, roadside plantings, and bioswales. Let’s find out how each of these techniques works.

1) Stormwater attenuation system- The stormwater attenuation system hinges on the ability of storing the stormwater falling on the impervious surfaces into a stormwater attenuation tank. Once water is stored in this tank, it is allowed to rest for some time so that the heavy dirt particles and impurities settle down. After this, the water stored in this tank can be diverted to the main drainage system at a moderate rate. This simple process is helpful in preventing waterlogging.
2) Green infrastructure practices- Implementing GI practices like rain gardens and bioswales help in preventing waterlogging by allowing more rainwater to be absorbed by the soil. The soil acts as an excellent water filter, thereby preventing water pollution and facilitating groundwater recharging. Soil and green plants capture the nutrients, pesticides, and fertilizers from the runoff water, thereby mitigating the negative effects on the ecosystem causes due to polluted water.

Stormwater runoff has been a problem for decades. But thankfully, now we have some great strategies for curbing its negative effects. For best results, both stormwater attenuation systems and green infrastructure practices should be used simultaneously.

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