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Freshwater Biodiversity Toolbox

Stormwater Management – Impervious Surface Management

Impervious surfaces are solid surfaces that allow little to no stormwater to pass into the ground. For example, these surfaces can be roads or sidewalks and made from concrete, asphalt or plastics. Impervious surfaces are a problem for the environment because they disrupt the natural flow of surface waters into the ground. The water which cannot pass through the surface is then forced to run across the land and collect sediment and pollution which is then brought into waterways. The management of impervious surfaces can mainly be done through the reduction of their surface area and choosing alternatives. Improving the ability of stormwater to pass through surfaces and into the ground can also lower risks of flooding and other problems which can impact both humans and the environment.

Rating:
The syntheses scored poorly across all elements of CEESAT demonstrating limitations in the rigour and the transparency in which the review was conducted (i.e., no a-priori protocol, critical appraisal, or search strategy provided). A Green score was only given in one element to Prudencio & Null (2018) for providing a detailed search strategy. The syntheses in this intervention scored well in RASCAT apart from one element where all syntheses were unable to demonstrate consideration of implications, practical advice, or recommendations for decision-makers. Photo credit: Henderson Water Utility

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Prudencio, L., & Null, S.E. (2018)
Stormwater management and ecosystem services: A review
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van den Brandeler, F., Gupta, J., & Hordijk, M. (2019)
Megacities and rivers: Scalar mismatches between urban water management and river basin management
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Kane Driscoll, S., Kulacki, K. and Marzooghi, S. (2020)
A Review of the Literature on Potential Effects of Runoff from Refined Coal‐Tar–Based Sealant Coating on Aquatic Organisms
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