Green infrastructure for stormwater management includes which components?

• A. Green infrastructure for stormwater management includes bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavement.
• B. It relies solely on building new pipes.
• C. It encourages increased impervious coverage.
• D. It neglects vegetation.

Answer: (A)

Green infrastructure for stormwater management uses vegetation, soils, and permeable materials to absorb, filter, and store rainwater, reducing runoff and improving water quality. Bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable pavement are classic parts of this approach because each one slows and treats stormwater while letting it infiltrate into the ground or be taken up by plants. Bioswales are vegetated channels that capture runoff and remove pollutants as it flows through soil and plants. Rain gardens are shallow, planted depressions that collect rainfall, promote infiltration, and filter contaminants. Permeable pavement allows water to pass through the surface, reducing surface runoff and helping recharge groundwater.

Choosing only new pipes represents traditional gray infrastructure, which focuses on conveying water rather than using natural processes to treat and infiltrate it. Encouraging more impervious surfaces increases runoff and flood risk, opposite of green infrastructure goals. Neglecting vegetation eliminates the key element that makes these systems effective at interception, filtration, and evapotranspiration.