Reducing Urban Runoff

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to urban runoff and sustainable practices for managing stormwater.

Urban Runoff

Water that originates from precipitation events and flows over impervious surfaces like roads and buildings, often carrying pollutants into waterways.

Mitigate

To reduce the severity or seriousness of a situation; in this context, to lessen the impact of urban runoff.

Permeable Pavement

A type of pavement designed to allow water to infiltrate through its surface and reach the groundwater, reducing runoff.

Rain Gardens

Gardens designed to absorb and manage rainwater runoff, typically planted around storm drains to filter pollutants.

Groundwater Infiltration

The process by which water seeps into the soil and replenishes underground water supplies; reduced by increased impervious surfaces.

Algae Blooms

Rapid growth of algae in water bodies, often resulting from nutrient pollution, which can block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels.

Public Transit

Transportation systems that provide service to multiple passengers, such as buses and trains, which can reduce environmental impacts from private vehicles.

Impervious Surfaces

Surfaces that do not allow water to percolate through, such as asphalt and concrete, contributing to increased runoff.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas, which can lead to increased land use and impervious surfaces, exacerbating runoff issues.

Vertical Building

The practice of constructing buildings upwards rather than outwards to reduce land use and impervious surfaces, thereby mitigating runoff.