Impact of Urbanization on Water Quality

Abstract

An increase in population rate often renders extensive urban sprawl patterns which may contribute to water quality degradation. Urbanization and the consequent concentration of people in a relatively small area constantly create stress on the environment. The major impacting actions of urbanization include a major change in land use pattern, the excessive abstraction of surface and groundwater, more built-up area, solid waste landfilling, and sewage disposal. Urbanization takes up the land by clearing vegetation, converting wetlands, and open spaces for construction activities. Urban land use pattern covers more land in impervious areas like roads and buildings. As a result, there has been a drastic reduction in the infiltration of groundwater with less and less area available for groundwater recharging. Thus, groundwater depletion has been one of the major problems of urbanization. Untreated sewage and contaminated urban runoff seriously pollute the surface water bodies rendering them unfit to supply fresh water to urban requirements. Littering of sewage and leachate from solid waste landfill sites seriously contaminate urban groundwater. Therefore, the impact of urbanization on water quality has become a major issue that requires urgent attention.