Impermeable surfaces like pavement and compacted soil prevent water absorption, leading to flooding, reduced groundwater recharge, and increased pollution. They also collect heat and inhibit plant growth. Permeable pavements and floodwater collection can mitigate these issues.
An impermeable surface is a surface that cannot be penetrated by water. A classic example of an impermeable surface is pavement, which is used to build roads and parking lots around the world. Roofing and other building materials are also classically waterproof. Routine human use of the soil can also create impermeable surfaces; for example, dirt paths can develop highly compacted soil that is effectively impermeable, and poor farmland management can also create compacted soil conditions.
Impermeable surfaces are closely associated with humans, with the percentage of impermeable surface area expressed as a percentage of the total land mass increasing dramatically in more densely populated areas such as cities. In a rural community, coverage may be less than 10%, while in some cities it may be as high as 90%. The growth of impermeable surfaces is a major environmental concern, for a variety of reasons.
Under normal conditions, when it rains, the water is absorbed by the ground. From the ground, it slowly drips into groundwater, replenishing it, and reappears in surrounding rivers, lakes, and streams. While the ground can become swollen and wet, flooding is relatively rare, because the natural environment is designed to absorb water even from severe storms. An impermeable surface, however, doesn’t allow liquid to reach the ground, meaning it stays on the surface of the Earth, and this causes a variety of problems.
One of the most common problems associated with an impermeable surface is flooding. If the water has nowhere to go, water levels can rise dramatically, even after a small storm. Impervious surfaces also inhibit groundwater recharge, generate a large amount of polluted runoff, and reduce soil aeration. Furthermore, they collect heat, making their surroundings much hotter, and they inhibit the growth of trees and plants, which contributes to heat development by eliminating shade and also reducing air quality, as trees and plants normally act as gigantic scrubbers to pull impurities from the air.
The conditions associated with waterproof materials are often compared to those found in a desert. Many environmental agencies have advocated for changes in building policy to address this issue. For example, permeable and semi-permeable pavements can be used to allow water to return to the earth, or flood waters can be collected in tanks and redispersed in a controlled way. Such measures would benefit the environment as well as make communities safer by reducing flooding.
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