Non-technical Results
Traditional Subdivision
Construction | Post-construction
What happened in the Traditional subdivision as a result
of construction?
Before construction this area had a few small parking spaces,
but it was mostly open with grass cover. As construction of the new
subdivision began, the asphalt road, houses and driveways were installed.
Due to these additions of impervious surfaces, the volume of
water that ran off the site per unit area increased by 1550%! Imagine
that the runoff before construction is the small cylinder below.
As a result of construction, the stormwater volume running off the
site increased to the size of the large cylinder!
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Traditional runoff
before construction. |
Traditional runoff
due to construction:
1550% higher!
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As a result of these large increases in stormwater running off the
site, the amount of certain key pollutants that entered local waterways
also increased. These pollutants, such as phosphorus, metals, and
sediment, harm aquatic life and create nuisance algae blooms in local
waterways.
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