What are impervious surfaces, and how do they affect stormwater?

The biggest influencing factor on stormwater runoff is the presence of impervious surfaces, which are any surface coverings that do not absorb water, including roads, roofs, and parking lots. As a result, water cannot soak into the ground, and instead drains into the stormwater system, and then our creeks and rivers, much faster then it naturally would. This rapid drainage, along with the increased quantity of runoff results in high peak flows in waterways during storms, causing severe erosion of stream banks, scouring of stream beds, excessive sedimentation, and flooding.

In urban environments such as Charlottesville, large areas are covered with impervious surfaces. There are almost 99 million square feet of impervious surface in the City. That is enough to cover over 1,700 football fields!


Show All Answers

1. What is stormwater, and why is it important?
2. Where does stormwater go after it enters storm drains?
3. What are impervious surfaces, and how do they affect stormwater?
4. Why is sedimentation a problem for waterways?
5. What is green stormwater infrastructure?
6. What is a watershed?