Urban waterways, also known as living streams or urban streams are waterways that pass through an urban area or receive storm water runoff from an urbanized catchment. They play a key role in liveable cities by sustaining plants and animals, providing social and cultural connection and supporting economic development through tourism and agriculture.
The health of urban waterways is heavily influenced by urbanisation. Vegetation clearing, road and building construction and polluting activities all increase the frequency and volume of polluted storm water flowing into waterways and significantly degrade their health.
Water quality touches all of us everyday through the water we drink, shower and swim in. The water we use to nourish our plants and crops with. But ensuring access to clean waters and the land surrounding them starts with us.
Why Should This Matter To You?
Jeff Odefey of American Rivers and Marc Yaggi of Water Keepers Alliance discuss an urban conundrum and the continuum of changes driven by demographic, economic, political, environmental, cultural, and social factors. The future liveability of cities is challenged by population growth and a changing climate that impacts on the environment that sustains us.
