Stormwater runoff can possess many contaminants, ranging from microplastics to bacteria in our drinking water. Drinking this untreated water poses many health risks for humans, such as long-term effects from exposure to heavy metals and PFAS to mild skin infections and diarrhea. There is even the possibility that untreated stormwater could contain deadly opioids like protonitazene, which was detected in wastewater on Friday, February 23rd, 2024.

While most potable water is treated by facilities, the safety of this water can be jeopardized during floods. Michiganders know firsthand how changing weather patterns affect aging infrastructure, witnessed time and again through events like the 2021 state of emergency for Detroit, or the Great Flood of 2019— the current water systems are not keeping up with demand.

These issues get even more extreme the more urban an area is. Part of it stems from the increase in impervious surfaces (think parking lots, buildings, etc.), which decreases the amount of water that could be absorbed by the environment, ultimately leading to more heat and flooding. The uptick in impervious surfaces has the additional impact of creating an extensive number of mixed contaminants; in short, the more urban areas are, the worse the risks are for flooding and contamination.

Not all communities are equally affected: urban areas, particularly those that are majority people of color and low-income and that have suffered persistent public disinvestment, tend to be disproportionally paved over, with fewer parks and open spaces. Detroit is beginning to remedy this issue through creating a green buffer around industrial activities.

Michigan is taking other steps to protect its residents: not only are Oakland County communities offering rebates, but federal funds have been invested to protect drinking water. The Great Lakes State alone is receiving $177 million for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure upgrades! The question now? How to invest the money. Many cities are focusing on replacing pipes, but that will not be enough; the best solutions to pollution involve incorporating green infrastructure into structural controls. Green roofs, for example, limit flooding by absorbing water and filtering excessive nutrients, while permeable pavement permits water to drain through concrete. Refer to the hyperlinked articles and video for additional tips on how to prevent pollution.