As urban sprawl continues, paved streets and uniform rooftops expand relentlessly onward, covering the land with impervious surfaces. “Impervious surfaces are mainly constructed surfaces--rooftops, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots--covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, and stone” (Barnes, Morgan, and Roberge 3). Every new roofed structure, every new sidewalk, and every new road adds a new water blockade. This seal of man made material slowly covering the earth prevents water from infiltrating into the soil and replenishing supplies of ground water. Impervious surfaces also negatively effecting stream flow and overland flow (Strahler 486). We build cities in order to promote human development and economic growth,
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It is predicted that by 2030, developed countries will be at least 83% urbanized (Mentens, Reyes, and Hermy 217). Urbanization entails creating new housing developments as well as new roads, both of which contribute to area covered by impenetrable materials. One study determined that in the next 15 years, as a result of urbanization, the area of land stressed by impervious surfaces will at least double (Theobald et al. 376). Although urban sprawl and impervious surface cover are both projected to increase, the transition from rural land into urban land peaked many years ago. According to Leo Schnore and Gene Petersen, there was not a single decade between 1790 and 1960 in which rural growth exceed urban expansion (60). “By 1920, in fact, over half the total population was living in places defined as urban” (Schnore and Petersen 60). Human manipulation of the environment into impenetrable, developed land has rapidly increased since the 18th century. Urban development of rural land, which has sky-rocketed in recent centuries, requires the abuse of the land, of habitats, and of the organisms that stand in the way of human growth. Several of the basic principles of deep ecology state that human interference with the environment is excessive and its negative effects are increasing far too rapidly (Devall …show more content…
Chemicals from industry, transportation, paving, and waste, among other things, collect in urban areas. When heavy rains strike, these pollutants are washed directly into bodies of fresh water because they are unable to infiltrate the soil. Although it seems irrelevant, the path that the pollutants take into streams and lakes makes a significant difference in water quality. If pollutants are absorbed into the soil with rainwater, naturally occurring microbes are able to break down some of the chemicals, reducing their negative environmental impact (Frazer 462). Conversely, in areas covered by impervious materials, pollutants are carried with water directly to larger bodies of water and are unable to be broken down by microbes. Similar to this process, as water and pollutants flow through vegetated soil, solid pollutants settle out and nitrogen and phosphorous are taken up by plants (Mallin et al. 1054). These natural filtration systems are removed with urban sprawl, resulting in decreasing water quality in watersheds that are comprised primarily of urban areas and impervious
It is predicted that by 2030, developed countries will be at least 83% urbanized (Mentens, Reyes, and Hermy 217). Urbanization entails creating new housing developments as well as new roads, both of which contribute to area covered by impenetrable materials. One study determined that in the next 15 years, as a result of urbanization, the area of land stressed by impervious surfaces will at least double (Theobald et al. 376). Although urban sprawl and impervious surface cover are both projected to increase, the transition from rural land into urban land peaked many years ago. According to Leo Schnore and Gene Petersen, there was not a single decade between 1790 and 1960 in which rural growth exceed urban expansion (60). “By 1920, in fact, over half the total population was living in places defined as urban” (Schnore and Petersen 60). Human manipulation of the environment into impenetrable, developed land has rapidly increased since the 18th century. Urban development of rural land, which has sky-rocketed in recent centuries, requires the abuse of the land, of habitats, and of the organisms that stand in the way of human growth. Several of the basic principles of deep ecology state that human interference with the environment is excessive and its negative effects are increasing far too rapidly (Devall …show more content…
Chemicals from industry, transportation, paving, and waste, among other things, collect in urban areas. When heavy rains strike, these pollutants are washed directly into bodies of fresh water because they are unable to infiltrate the soil. Although it seems irrelevant, the path that the pollutants take into streams and lakes makes a significant difference in water quality. If pollutants are absorbed into the soil with rainwater, naturally occurring microbes are able to break down some of the chemicals, reducing their negative environmental impact (Frazer 462). Conversely, in areas covered by impervious materials, pollutants are carried with water directly to larger bodies of water and are unable to be broken down by microbes. Similar to this process, as water and pollutants flow through vegetated soil, solid pollutants settle out and nitrogen and phosphorous are taken up by plants (Mallin et al. 1054). These natural filtration systems are removed with urban sprawl, resulting in decreasing water quality in watersheds that are comprised primarily of urban areas and impervious