Recent weather conditions bring up the topic of flooding, and how individuals in the southeastern region will be affected. Homes, neighborhoods and businesses all face the potential consequences of erosion and pollution.
Heavy rainfall picks up an assortment of contaminants. The end-result can be mold in household structures, food poisoning and septic system failures. Victims of flooding should throw away any spoiled food and stick to drinking bottled water until wells and springs are cleared for contamination.
Aside from flooding, heavy rain is a common occurrence. With heavy rain often comes the dreaded stormwater.
What’s usually inside stormwater?
Occasionally, heavy rainfalls or snowfalls create a large amount of surface water, also known as stormwater. Natural landscape absorbs this water and replenishes other bodies of water. It’s normally a part of a healthy environmental cycle, and plants and animals rely the groundwater.
However, when stormwater runs over surfaces such as streets and parking lots, it can carry pollution over to neighboring lands. Stormwater picks up and carries a mixture of pollutants, such as:
- Dirt
- Oil
- Grease
- Toxic chemicals
What can developers do to stop it?
While developers have no control over flooding, there are ways to avoid the consequences of stormwater runoff in present and future projects.
Stormwater runoff can potentially raise issues with local water pollution. That’s why it’s important that developers install and maintain erosion-control systems. These systems improve water quality and minimize pollution.
Runoff has a huge impact, and it’s necessary for developers to understand the importance of prevention and health guidelines. State and federals laws and regulations are sometimes confusing to follow. Developers may benefit from legal counsel at any point in the development process.