Bioretention

Written by Linn Kha

Environmental Issue: Bioretention Systems and Urban Runoff

Cities grow bigger, and when they grow bigger, more and more of the land of the city is covered by pavement and concrete. The problem is that stormwater runoff has become a major environmental problem. Rainwater used to soak naturally into the ground, but because of the concrete and pavement, rainwater now flows across the roads and streets, and it collects pollutants like oil, tire wear particles, and trash before going into the waterways, which causes harm to aquatic life. 

Bioretention systems such as rain gardens, bioswales, stormwater planters, tree pits, and bioretention basins, which are designed to solve the problem we have by using the soil and plants to filter the water so only the clean water flows into the waterways. These systems help reduce flooding, improve water quality, and restore the underground water supplies. Even though this is one of the best solutions, it’s still not perfect because it requires regular maintenance to stay efficient and effective, as without proper maintenance, the soil may clog or the plants may die. Think of it like the filters in your A.C: you have to maintain the filters from time to time, since this involves plants, and it is living, it requires more maintenance.

As long as we make these systems more efficient and long-lasting. They become useful for all types of urban environments. With pollution increasing worldwide because of vehicles and climate change, we should implement bioretention systems in as many cities as possible.