Abstract

Urban, and particularly suburban living, has had a drastic impact on the environment in general and stormwater runoff in particular. It has increased flooding in streams and rivers, has reduced groundwater recharge and has deteriorated stormwater quality. Suburban living has also added to urban sprawl, long commute, congested traffic, road rage, air pollution, greenhouse emissions, and global warming. This entry discusses the effects of urban development on stormwater runoff and presents a review of various measures to reduce these effects. The entry also provides a comparative cost analysis of these measures and offers suggestions to minimize the effects of urban development on the environment.