Environmental impact

 What is the impact of impervious surfaces on the environment?

• Pollution of surface water. When stormwater runs off impermeable surfaces, it picks up pollutants as it flows into storm drains. The contaminated water then flows directly into rivers, lakes, wetlands and oceans, generating problems for biodiversity as well as public health.
• Flooding of surface water and erosion of stream banks. During periods of heavy rainfall, large amounts of impermeable surfaces generate large amounts of runoff. This sudden influx of runoff into rivers can cause flash flooding and  erosion of stream banks.
• Water table is not adequately recharged. Because impermeable surfaces send rainwater into storm drains rather than allow it to percolate down to our aquifers, groundwater may be used faster than it is recharged.
• Formation of stagnate water puddles. On impermeable surfaces where runoff has no drainage route, stormwater can puddle for long periods of time. Stagnate puddles can become breeding places for undesirable insects such as mosquitoes.
• Heat island effect. Due to the heat-absorbing quality of asphalt and other paving materials, sites with high ratios of impermeable surfaces increase ambient air temperatures and require more energy for cooling.

New Jersey has lost considerable wetland resources since our Nation’s birth. Our remaining wetlands are vital to water quality, flood control, and fish and wildlife. New Jersey’s wetlands contribute to our quality of life, and to our local economies that rely on tourism and outdoor recreation.