ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING:

Taking a Closer Look at Water Runoff

In which of these lakes would you rather swim?

My guess is you chose the clean lake on the left rather than the contaminated lake on the right.

The contaminated lake has most likely been effected by water runoff.

What is water runoff? Water runoff begins as excess water

which lies above the ground after the soil has been infiltrated to maximum capacity.

This water then flows across large pieces of land picking up any manmade contaminants it comes in contact with, as well as any natural materials it crosses.

The contaminated water then flows into an outlet such as a river or lake.

Environmental Impact Water runoff falls into a

category known as Nonpoint Source(NPS) pollution.

In the U.S. NPS pollution is the largest source of water quality problems.

If bodies of water do not meet certain standards then they are considered unsafe for people to use and enjoy.

The Problem

40% of U.S. surveyed lakes, rivers and estuaries are considered unsafe for activities such as swimming and fishing.

Many advancements have already been made in an attempt to keep our nation’s waters clean.

If we don’t continue to do our part then the number of unsafe fishing and swimming locations will continue to increase.

What can be done?

Many people think they can’t do anything to help, however there are a number of potential solutions which can help to lessen the water runoff problem.

If more people knew how easy some of these solutions are I feel they would be more likely to do their part in helping our environment.

Porous Paving MaterialsUsed in place of concreteThe material resembles concrete however it isn’t composed the same way.Porous paving materials lack the fillers of concrete and are pervious to water meaning they absorb water.

The water absorbed by porous pavement is filtered as it runs through the material.It eventually reaches the soil or rock below the pavement and is absorbed back into the ground.

Rain Barrels

Rain tends to runoff homes in the same place causing erosion in that location.

By placing a rain barrel at the downspouts of your home you can prevent water runoff.

The greatest benefit behind a rain barrel comes from the ability to use the water collected whenever and wherever you feel necessary.

Rain barrels are a low cost and environmentally friendly way of preventing water runoff.A basic rain barrel cost around $100.

Mechanics behind a rain barrel

Rain Gardens

Serve as a natural location where water can be given time to settle back into the ground through a natural process.

Can be placed close to homes in order to collect water from downspouts or distanced from a house in order to collect water from an entire lawn or patio.

They are easy to maintain and visually appealing.

Filters

Filters can be used in order to clean contaminated waters before they come in contact with other water.

They can come in any size, shape or form depending on each individual situation for which a filter is needed.

Simple things you can do

Sweep your sidewalks and driveways instead of washing them off with water.

Start a compost pile rather than disposing of yard waste.

By storing and disposing of any and all chemicals properly you can eliminate any possible water contamination due to those chemicals.

Now that you have all the facts including: What water runoff is, It’s impact on our environment and A few of the many possible solutions to

decrease the problems cause by water runoff.

What will you do to save and protect our lakes and rivers for years to come?