Why is it important? What exactly is it?
Stormwater Management can easily be defined as the measures taken to limit the runoff of melted snow, melted ice, or rainwater into the lawns, streets, and other sites as well as the improvement of water quality.
So, why then is stormwater management important?
1. TO AVOID FLOODING AND WATERLOGGING
In an ideal scenario, rainwater or melted snow should be absorbed by the soil, filtered to replenish aquifers, while the rest gets evaporated into the atmosphere or flows into rivers, lakes, and streams. Without the implementation of Stormwater Management techniques, after each downpour of rain and melting of snow or ice, you could have a waterlogged lawn, flooded roads which could well hamper transportation, flooded basements, etc.
2. WATER POLLUTION
Without the incorporation of good stormwater management techniques, there is bound to be water pollution; stagnation of water which could easily lead to injuries, illnesses, and diseases. Also, the runoff often carries chemicals, debris, eroded soil, bacteria, and other pollutants and deposits itself whenever the runoff meets an impervious surface.
3. EROSION
Having water that goes nowhere causes problems, causing erosion in bare soils without plant or tree covers to efficiently absorb water into the soil and into them, and filter it to be returned back into nature for use.
4. MUDDINESS
When the soil gets waterlogged, especially when bare and without soil cover, the soil gets muddy. This would disturb movement and can also be a hazard to both humans and animals.
5. INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE
Excess water doesn’t just stay ideal. It gets absorbed into a lot of things, which are not ideal to allow for absorption. In a time of flooding or its milder forms, the stagnant water gets absorbed into building structures, weakening their strength. Other infrastructures can get damaged as well, including vehicles, shops etc. It could become quite detrimental to the livelihood of a lot of people if not attended to using swift and effective methods.
6. SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM OVERFLOW
You definitely don’t want this happening. Things that are buried should stay buried. A situation of stormwater runoff can do a lot more harm to a household function, especially the sanitary sewer system. Also, it could reduce the purity of your water supply.
A Quick Rundown
Now that we know why Stormwater Management is important, we’ll do a quick run through the many stormwater management techniques: add plants for more absorption, break up slabs, leave the trees as they absorb a lot of water into their stems and leaves, use rain barrels to capture rain from your roofs, installation of permeable pavements in place of the impervious surfaces, build gutters and other channels for the safe evacuation of water, and so much more.
CONCLUSION
The importance of stormwater management cannot be overstated. Some days, the stakes could be higher. Let’s try to keep the world safe by being proactive in our actions. Stormwater management can start as early as the building of a house.
