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THIS YEAR'S THEMETHIS YEAR'S THEME
"Rethinking Runoff:
Design Clean Solutions to Manage Stormwater Pollution"
What happens when rain falls in cities?
Hard surfaces—like roofs, sidewalks, and parking lots—prevent rain from soaking into
the ground.
Instead, rainwater turns into runoff. It flows quickly over surfaces, which can lead
to flooding. As it moves, runoff carries pollutants into storm drains which empty
directly into the waterways we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water. In a
matter of ...minutes, rain becomes stormwater runoff—a serious source of water pollution. Since
a clean water supply is important to every city, it’s time to rethink runoff.
Instead of a nuisance to channel away, runoff can be a valuable resource. Engineers
are designing new ways to manage stormwater that make city landscapes act more like
natural landscapes. These help reduce runoff, increase the amount of water that soaks
into the ground, and improve water quality. Whether your future city receives lots
of precipitation or a little, you’ll need to think creatively about managing stormwater.
This years essay challenge: Identify a stormwater runoff problem that is important
for your city to manage and design a solution.
BE A PART OF THE FUTURE! DESIGN YOUR FUTURE CITY TODAY!
