The Innovative Way Communities are Dealing with Extreme Rainfall

By path2positive

One of the primary consequences of climate change is the increased incidence of extreme weather events. One example that has proven particularly damaging in cities is heavy rainfall. Extreme precipitation can lead to flooding, runoff of trash and toxins, which can stress infrastructure including roads, sewers, rooftops and drainage pipes.

Across the nation, over 700 cities use a combined system to handle both storm-water and sewage. Stress from increasing water flows is putting these systems to the test, and cities are looking for solutions.

For many municipalities, the answer lays in developing green-infrastructure. These development projects are popping up more and more, in the form of wetland restoration, rain gardens, and green roofs. The goal: to slowly capture rainfall and limit water runoff. These innovative measures take pressure off of aging and vulnerable city infrastructure, while facilitating wildlife protection, developing green spaces, and providing for cleaner air and water.

These solutions are not without their challenges. However, through private-public partnerships, more and more natural and eco-solutions are being employed by communities as they learn to manage the effects of climate change. To learn more about what communities and leaders are doing to fight climate change, visit the Path to Positive and join the movement!


Green Roofs, Built on Private Investment

By Mark R. Tercek & Douglas B. Petno | Bloomberg View | August 5, 2015

The extreme rainstorms that strike with increasing frequency — such as the Memorial Day weekend downpours in Texas — are having devastating effects beyond the severe flooding they cause. Sudden and forceful rains overwhelm urban storm-drain systems, as water pours over roads, rooftops and other impervious surfaces, washing away dust, oil, trash and waste of all kinds. This dirty wash then runs into rivers, streams and lakes, and pollutes downstream drinking water.

Storm water has become a principal contributor to water pollution nationwide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. More than 700 U.S. cities use combined storm-water and sewer systems, and many are now overwhelmed by the pollution problem. When their overflows foul nearby waterways, these cities face federal legal action under the Clean Water Act, and penalties that range from millions of dollars in fines to billions in mandated spending on traditional equipment such as pipes, tanks and treatment plants.

Read More

Subscribe

Stay connected and get updates from Path to Positive.

Subscribe

You May Also Like

March 15, 2023

My greatest mentors have been women. Teachers, supervisors, academic advisors, and role models. On the recent International Women’s Day, which took place last week, I...

Read More

March 2, 2023

Climate change is daunting. What are the solutions and what can you do about it? Communities around the country are stepping up, taking action, and...

Read More

February 27, 2023

We are storytellers. Humanity has told stories for as long as we’ve been social creatures. It’s how we make sense of the world. It’s how...

Read More
positive-white

 

Path to Positive is a program of ecoAmerica

 

© ecoAmerica 2006 – 2022 The contents of this website may be shared and used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International License.