Urban hydrology

Although obviously not a new field, urban hydrology has recently been the subject of considerable interest and concern (Leopold, 1968; Johnson, 1971). Urbanization results in radical changes in land use and in the interaction between land and water. Hence the hydrology of urbanized areas differs notably from that of the same land in its preceding rural condition. Urban hydrology is the scientific application of hydrologic principles and knowledge to the planning and management of urban areas and their surroundings. It embraces all aspects of the interactions of man and water in occupancy of land. It includes the special hydrologic studies needed to accomplish these ends and deals with minimizing the adverse effects of man's use of land and water and with maximizing the effective use of the available water resources (see Hydrogeology and Geohydrology). …