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Stormwater

A Resource for Scientists, Engineers, and Policy Makers

Stormwater

A Resource for Scientists, Engineers, and Policy Makers

As cities grow and climates change, precipitation increases, and with every great storm—from record-breaking Boston blizzards to floods in Houston—come buckets of stormwater and a deluge of problems. In Stormwater, William G. Wilson brings us the first expansive guide to stormwater science and management in urban environments, where rising runoff threatens both human and environmental health.

As Wilson shows, rivers of runoff flowing from manmade surfaces—such as roads, sidewalks, and industrial sites—carry a glut of sediments and pollutants. Unlike soil, pavement does not filter or biodegrade these contaminants. Oil, pesticides, road salts, metals, automobile chemicals, and bacteria all pour into stormwater systems. Often this runoff discharges directly into waterways, uncontrolled and untreated, damaging valuable ecosystems. Detailing the harm that can be caused by this urban runoff, Wilson also outlines methods of control, from restored watersheds to green roofs and rain gardens, and, in so doing, gives hope in the face of an omnipresent threat. Illustrated throughout, Stormwater will be an essential resource for urban planners and scientists, policy makers, citizen activists, and environmental educators in the stormy decades to come.

400 pages | 277 halftones | 6 x 9 | © 2016

Biological Sciences: Conservation, Ecology

Earth Sciences: Environment

Reviews

“From a scientific and engineering standpoint, Stormwater is a treasure trove of systems analysis and data. As is evidenced by the list of readings at the end of each chapter and the lengthy references section, the book covers just about everything that is currently known about the patterns and consequences of stormwater runoff from agricultural and urban areas. Wilson does an admirable job explaining the technical approaches used to collect and analyze these data, as well as how to interpret the sometimes-confusing figures used to clarify these results. Numerous illustrations help explain important concepts, such as the structural simplification commonly seen in urban streams. There are numerous, well-­supported, and interesting facts, large and small, scattered throughout the chapters . . . . The book provides great detail on the science and technical management of stormwater.”

Audrey L. Mayer, Michigan Tech University | BioScience

"A useful reference for those seeking recent information on stormwater management issues and strategies."

Suzanne Faubl, National Water Research Institute | Journal of the American Water Resources Association

“Original, thorough, and clear, Stormwater is a holistic, comprehensive primer that can be used by scientists, engineers, and policy makers alike. Indeed, it is the most comprehensive book to date on the chemical, physical, and biological aspects of stormwater, and on how we manage it, associated impacts, and controls. Excellent.”

David Sample, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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