Underground Water Retention Matters Long After The Storm Is Over
When it’s raining, the last thing you’re likely doing is thinking about the ground underneath you. Sure, you might be concerned about the mud you might walk through or the puddles you wind up splashing as you drive around. However, you’re more likely focused on what’s above you. That could be the rain hitting your umbrella as you hope to point it at the right angle that keeps you dry. It might also be the pitter patter of rain drops on the roof over you, as you hope there aren’t any leaks that might stain the ceiling overhead. You might even just be focused on the rain coming down on your vehicle as you adjust your speed and lights to something safe, while figuring out what frequency to keep your windshield wipers on.
The one thing you’re likely looking up for, and certainly looking forward to, is the clouds parting and the sun coming back out so the rain is finally over. Once it does, the waters that are still on the ground will start giving way. Puddles dry up, and a lot of water will flow downhill to the closest streams or stormwater drains, where it starts to make its flowing exit to lower elevations and places down the river.
Having said that, not all water will do this. Underground water retention will happen, too, as the soil and terrain absorb a lot of the water. Depending on the composition of the soil, it can act a lot like a sponge or mop in how much water it can absorb and retain. Some will stay near the surface, but a lot will also just follow gravity down underground, possibly joining the underground water table, if one is present.
Underground water retention matters long after the storm is over, and for many reasons. For starters, the underground water table in some places is being depleted much faster than it’s being replenished by nature. This is an area of concern in some agricultural states in the Midwest and West that might have to find new water sources within decades, if not years.
In places where flooding and erosion are concerns, the retention of water underground proves crucial since it means it takes longer for water to get into the waterways and start draining away. This is a big benefit in avoiding flooding or rivers backing up. Then again, if another storm happens while the ground is already soaked, then it can mean no more water is absorbed and flooding does actually happen.
As it stands, too much water retention in the ground can be a huge flooding risk. Then again, not having enough water retention in the same ground can also be a big flooding risk.
Considering how much more ground is covered up by buildings, concrete, asphalt, and pavement than before, there’s also simply less ground area available to directly absorb water, and while you might think the water could move sideways underground to get underneath artificial surfaces, this isn’t generally a good idea since it can mean shifting and cracking foundations.