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1 Urban Runoff Angel Holts Walden University Dr. McNeal PUBH-6034 Environmental Health July 16, 2023

2 Urban Runoff Background of the Water Quality Issue Before delving into the subject, it is necessary to clarify some of the terms that collectively comprise the definition of "urban runoff." The term "urban" refers to a town or city. On the other hand, runoff refers to the flow of anything over the ground, specifically water. A high population density distinguishes the urban environment. Thus, urban runoff is the gathering and moving of rainwater and water from human activities such as vehicle washing and landscape irrigation (Peacock, 2019). This water accumulates on impermeable surfaces like parking lots, roadways, and sidewalks. Flooding is one of the most severe problems linked to urban drainage. Water gathers on the surface when it cannot drain adequately through the corresponding drainage channels. As a result, the water may be harmful and, in most circumstances, cause people to lose their houses. Water contamination is another significant concern with urban runoff (Peacock, 2019). Water gathers and runs through the surfaces, picking up pollutants such as oil, dirt, metals, and other dangerous chemicals. These compounds are to blame for the restricted development of plants in metropolitan environments. They also disturb the aquatic ecology, cause infrastructural damage, harm species, and increase the expense of managing the problem in the long term. Flooding caused by urban runoff became a problem in 1964 and continues today. Historically, urban runoff has been increasing since 1975 (Fox et al., 2019). Its rise has caused an upsurge in flood-related mortality. Akerlindh (1950) and Weibel et al. (1964) were the first to identify the problem of urban runoff. The issue subsequently drew the attention of other researchers, who raised worries about the consequences of rain melt and urban stormwater. These were considered polluting sources. Large-scale schemes, such as the Nationwide Urban Runoff

3 Program (NURP), were created in the 1980s (Müller et al., 2020). Since then, several databases have been built to examine the trends in the consequences of urban runoff. An extensive analysis of sizeable urban runoff events was conducted, and it was discovered that the primary urban uses that create urban runoff include residential, commercial, institutional, highways, and open space. The data obtained, however, is geographic and cannot be utilized to pinpoint individual sources of diffuse pollution within catchment regions via source controls. Over millennia, a vast amount of information has been accumulated. However, a more significant gap must be addressed since urban runoff remains a big concern regarding water quality. According to Yang and Lusk (2018), the current study focuses on how to manage the nutrients and phosphorus accumulated by runoff rainwater. Nutrient control from urban areas to fresh water can be influenced by intake types, land utilization, expansion patterns, and management tactics. Yang and Lusk argue in their study that mitigating nutrient exports from urban environments requires controlling the sources and quantities of nutrients introduced into water systems and developing a novel mechanistic understanding of the biochemical mechanisms that govern nutrient treatment in stormwater. The authors believe there is a lack of knowledge about phosphorus, necessitating more intensive investigation. The large variety of toxins carried by urban runoff pollutes it. Water-borne illnesses are commonly spread by urban drainage (Perveen, 2022). As much as there is a need to establish a plan to regulate and manage runoff streams to reduce runoff increases, there is also a need to incorporate public health professionals in decision-making and program activation. The public health sector can also verify that the solutions are consistent with healthcare recommendations to improve people's quality of life. The public health sector may also guarantee that research is conducted and measures for dealing with water-borne infections are adopted.

4 Assessment of Exposure The primary health risk from urban runoff is drinking polluted water. Contaminated water can cause a variety of ailments, including typhoid fever, gastrointestinal infections, cholera, and dysentery (Mokarram et al., 2020). It puts children, pregnant women, and the elderly in the greatest danger of disease and death—all of the water we consume as humans is obtained naturally. When water sources become highly polluted, obtaining purely treated and germ-free water becomes difficult. Bacterial and viral illnesses can also be caused by urban drainage. When urban runoff comes into contact with human skin, it includes significant amounts of germs and various contaminants that can cause skin diseases. Water pollution has an impact on aquatic species as well. Pollution buildup in fish can pose health problems to people who consume contaminated fish regularly. We take down trees and woods to create buildings and roads while developing cities and towns. When it rains, water pours off the roofs and pavements and collects in the streets. During urban runoff, water picks up chemicals, pollutants, dirt, pesticides, and microbes. This soil can be dumped anywhere during runoff. When chemicals are dumped in areas with vegetation cover, plantations may perish due to the toxins (Okereafor et al., 2020). It also creates trash deposition, which pollutes the ecosystem. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged when urban runoff causes flooding. Roads can sometimes become inaccessible; bridges might fail; buildings can collapse or be swept away, leaving people homeless. Aside from urban runoff, poor water quality is caused by industrial waste, pollution, and a lack of access to essential water treatment and sanitation facilities. Outdated plumbing infrastructure also contributes to poor water quality.

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