The Hidden Cost of Concrete: How Impervious Surfaces Are Reshaping Our Water World

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Impervious surface impacts on hydrology and water quality - Solution

Hydrologic Cycle Alteration Analysis

We quantify how impervious surfaces disrupt natural water infiltration and increase surface runoff volumes and velocities.

  • Measure reduced groundwater recharge rates
  • Calculate increased peak discharge during storm events
  • Model changes to baseflow in local streams

Stormwater Pollution Assessment

We identify and measure pollutants transported by runoff from impervious surfaces into water bodies.

  • Analyze heavy metal accumulation from roadways
  • Track nutrient loading from fertilized landscapes
  • Monitor hydrocarbon contamination from parking areas

Mitigation Strategy Development

We design and implement green infrastructure solutions to counteract impervious surface impacts.

  • Design permeable pavement systems
  • Plan bioretention cells and rain gardens
  • Implement green roofs and vegetated swales

Regulatory Compliance Guidance

We help navigate water quality regulations related to impervious cover limits and stormwater management requirements.

  • Prepare municipal separate storm sewer system permits
  • Develop total maximum daily load implementation plans
  • Create stormwater pollution prevention plans
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Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

A: Impervious surfaces prevent rainfall from infiltrating into the ground, drastically increasing the volume and speed of surface runoff. This leads to more frequent and severe flash flooding, channel erosion in streams, and reduced groundwater recharge, which can lower base flows in streams during dry periods.

A: Runoff from impervious surfaces washes pollutants like motor oil, heavy metals, nutrients from fertilizers, sediment, road salts, and bacteria into waterways. This contamination leads to degraded aquatic habitats, toxic conditions for fish and macroinvertebrates, algal blooms from nutrient loading, and can impair sources of drinking water.

A: Effective mitigation strategies include implementing green infrastructure such as permeable pavements, rain gardens, bioswales, and constructed wetlands. These systems capture, infiltrate, and treat stormwater at its source. Other strategies include retrofitting detention/retention ponds and enforcing stricter controls on pollutant sources like industrial sites.