Writing Sample on Stormwater Management

 I recently created this content for a client who flaked out. I am posting it here so that it cannot be used without my permission.

A gentle rain that drops about one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch of water per hour is usually easily absorbed by most soil types. When the soil is already saturated or rain falls at a faster rate, storm water runoff can be a problem. Consider these four ways in which the management of rain water runoff is important to the environment and human safety.

1. Reducing Local Flooding

When too much rain falls in a short amount of time, localized flooding can be a problem. Street flooding can be dangerous, causing cars to float. Debris can be picked up by the water, resulting in injuries. The water can also intrude into the basement. With proper systems for managing runoff, the risk of this type of flooding can be minimized. In addition to reducing local street flooding, managing excess rain water properly also helps with:

• Maintaining municipal drainage systems

• Enhancing the stability of drainage systems

• Mitigating the amount of damage from floods, such as basement flooding

2. Protecting Wildlife

Water from storms collects all sorts of chemical runoff. These chemicals can include oil, gasoline and diesel fuel from vehicles, residue from parking lots, roads and sidewalks, pesticides and herbicides from farms and lawns and other debris, such as plastic bags and shards of glass. All of these items are hazardous to wildlife. Animals get entangled in plastic, while the liquid chemicals get into their food and water supplies. With a strong system for handling the flow of runoff, local wildlife can be protected.

3. Maintaining Healthy Waterways

One of the biggest impacts of properly managing rainstorm runoff is on the local waterways. Small creeks, streams and tributaries collect runoff. Chemical pollutants and debris can choke these passageways, leading to considerable impacts on the fish, amphibians and birds that live, feed and nest in those areas. These small waterways flow into larger rivers, which means those pollutants can affect a greater number of species across a wide area. Some cities even draw their water supplies from rivers. Good management techniques of the storm water prevent a cascade of pollution from affecting waterways across a wide area.

4. Minimizing Erosion

Heavy rains can pick up a considerable amount of soil. The particles of clay, sand and other bits of soil erode from the places where they need to be, such as farmland, back yards and embankments that protect roads and highways. The erosion of soil may cause a weakening of roads, bridges and other critical pieces of infrastructure. Around homes, erosion may lead to exposure of foundations, walls and driveways, resulting in uneven settling and cracks. As the particles slowly settle, they can clog the narrow waterways where they end up, choking fragile plants, fish and amphibians in small streams and creeks. When the water is managed properly, erosion is minimized.

The proper management of storm water is critical to environmental health and safety. Managing water runoff on your property is a great start. Pollution is preventable with proper techniques for handling runoff.