Untreated stormwater poses a large threat to human and animal safety because of pollutants and bacteria. However, it is also an untapped resource that can help combat drought in heat-prone areas if it is captured and cleaned properly. Currently, more states like Texas and California are attempting to contain stormwater to supply millions of households with water.

The issues these states are facing is rooted in their urban infrastructure: urban areas generate almost 60 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year. This is because many of these places have impervious surfaces that do not allow water to get absorbed into the ground. As such, city improvement plans often target these sites, removing concrete, asphalt, and other aspect to allow stormwater to seep into the ground, where it can recharge aquifers. The more pervious surfaces there are, the more water that can be captured.

Another way of adapting to stormwater is to increase green infrastructure, like the city of Pittsburgh. Green infrastructure is low-impact development that works with nature to reduce flooding and heat while improving air, soil, and water quality. To rephrase, green infrastructure does not disturb the area, but instead are plant-based structural controls that reduce flooding, attenuate pollution, and increase clean water, while assisting local animals and improving the aesthetics of properties. Rain gardens, green roofs, and other vegetated areas such as seagrass buffers in Australia, are prime examples of technologies that absorb water while filtering pollutants; combine this approach with plants that are native to the area for even more benefits for local wildlife!

These sustainable practices can be done at a city-wide level or can be used by residents. For example, you can repave your driveway with more eco-friendly options, or even convert your driveway to a permeable surface to reduce flooding in your neighborhood. Other ways of contributing to the stormwater solution include storing rainwater for domestic uses and using flora to prevent erosion. Reference the hyperlinked articles for further reading and advice for implementing green infrastructure.