It is hard to believe, but urban flooding is one of the greatest and most common environmental threats currently being faced by towns and cities around the world. The fact that rainfall levels are forever changing, means that the threat of urban flooding is likely to trend upward, even in regions that become much drier.
In an urban landscape, there is only a certain amount of storm water that can be retained. If this amount is exceeded, water naturally begins to flow downhill, which generates a significant amount of run-off. This run-off can cause major pollution issues, as well as degrade the ecological make-up of urban streams.
In today’s urban centres, large amounts of storm water run-off are created due to the use of a variety of impervious surfaces. These are common to any residential buildings, and include surfaces such as roofs and the standard backyard patio. In order to commit to the restoration and protection of our waterways, the amount of storm water run-off to pipes must be reduced.
According to a recent article published by The Conversation, the average volume of stormwater generated by an urban plot of land in Melbourne is approximately 83,000 litres per annum. Luckily, there are solutions available to help prevent the rising tide of stormwater run-off.
What Can You Do?
There are a number of simple methods that you can implement, reducing the amount of urban flooding and storm water run-off in your home. Residential gardens have the ability to act just a sponge, as long as they are designed properly. When it rains, plants absorb and intercept water on leaves and foliage. Rainwater is then able to seep throughout the soil, or even evaporate into the atmosphere. Any left over water is then lost as superficial run-off. With this being said, one way to reduce great amounts of storm water run-off is to plant more grass, shrubs and trees. Vegetation is able to transpire water into the atmosphere, creating a more sustainable life cycle.
You can take things one step further by installing environmentally conscious materials wherever possible. One sustainable solution would be to install permeable surfaces. Driveways, footpaths, car parks and pathways can be made from evaporative and absorbent materials that retain firmness, but still allow water to drain through them.
At Premier Pavers, we want to rise to the challenge, creating a more sustainable living area for you and your family. Our absorbable permeable pavers can assist in fighting the amount of urban flooding that is contributed to through your home.
We provide you with opportunities to design attractive yet functional pavers that save and store water. We have worked to improve the sustainability of shopping centres, driveways, parking lots, walkways and alfresco areas to become non-slip, puddle free permeable surfaces. This means you can incorporate more of these permeable surfaces into your designs, while still looking after our environmental regulations.
Now is the time to make your mark in environmental design, commercial or domestic, using Premier Hydropavers® exclusively from Premier Pavers, one of Australia’s leading paver companies.
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