stormwater

Definition

Surface water resulting from rainfall or snowmelt that does not soak into the ground and instead runs off into drainage systems or surrounding land.

Etymology

A compound word derived from the Middle English 'storm' (a violent atmospheric disturbance) and 'water' (the liquid essential for life), appearing in its current sense during the 19th century to describe urban drainage needs.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the runoff that green corridors help absorb; when these corridors are replaced by buildings, the city loses its ability to manage stormwater, leading to flooding.

The Consequences of Distorting the Abuja Master Plan.

Politics Digest

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