Development

Impervious areas are places where the ground is covered by a hard surface so that water “runs off” instead of sinking naturally into the ground. Impervious surfaces include roads, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, rooftops, and many other hard surfaces.

When impervious surfaces are created through development, less rainwater soaks into the ground. If rainwater cannot soak into the ground, or infiltrate, it becomes runoff. As more and more natural spaces are converted into developed areas, more and more stormwater runoff is created. This increase in the volume of stormwater pollution is a growing problem throughout our state.

Additional Resources

This article provides more information on the urban climate in our cities.

EPA’s website on urban runoff provides information on the effects of urbanization and development on water quality.

The Low Impact Development (LID) Center webpage provides materials on better site designs that reduce impervious surfaces and manage stormwater.