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The Urban Watershed Research Facility, Edison, New Jersey
Citation:
BEIER, J. The Urban Watershed Research Facility, Edison, New Jersey. EPA/600/F-08/005, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
to present information
Description:
In an undeveloped and undisturbed environment, rainfall is naturally filtered and absorbed by soil and plants, protecting aquatic systems by slowly releasing the water to ground water and streams. In an urban setting with development and lots of impervious surfaces, natural protection is short-circuited. Storm water is rapidly and purposefully transported from rooftops, parking lots, and streets—where it has collected pollutants—to sewers. The sewers route the water to receiving water or a treatment plant. The rapid runoff can degrade receiving water or exceed treatment plant capacity. Scientists in the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) at the Urban Watershed Management Research Facility in Edison, New Jersey, investigate alternative approaches to managing this wet-weather flow, so that flow is lessened and flow associated pollutants are decreased.