5.13: Reducing Urban Runoff

Question 1

Environmental consequences of urban runoff

Answer 1

• Reduced groundwater recharge
• surface water pollution

Question 2

Pollutants and effects

Salt,sediment, fertilizer, pesticides, oil and gasoline

Answer 2

• Salt (plant and insect death)
• Sediment (turbidity)
• Fertilizer (eutrophication)
• Pesticides (kill unintended targets)
• Oil and gasoline (suffocate fish/ kill aq. organism)

Question 3

Permeable pavement

Answer 3

Permeable pavement so stormwater can infiltrate and recharge ground water. This decreases runoff and the pollutants washed into surface waters and storm drains

Question 4

Rain Garden

Answer 4

Gardens planted in urban areas surrounding a storm drain decreases runoff by allowing it to soak into the garden soil. Additionally, it decreases likelihood of flooding during heavy rainfall and creates habitats for pollinators

Question 5

Public Transit

Answer 5

• More cars on the road = more pollutants on streets to runoff into strom drains
• Reducing the number of cars and transporting more people on public transport decreases urban runoff, pollutants, carbon emissions, and traffic

Question 6

Vertical

Answer 6

• Building vertically decreases impervious surfaces
• Can be combined with green roofs (which sequester carbon dioxide and filter air pollutants, plants absorb nitrous oxide, particulate matter,a nd other pollutants into stomata and store in tissue or soil)