Storm Water.

Abstract

Definition: "Storm water is water from rain or melting snow that does not immediately soak onto the ground and flows over our yards, streets, alleys, Definition: "Storm water is water from rain or melting snow that does not immediately soak onto the ground and flows over our yards, streets, alleys, parking lots, and buildings and enters the storm drain system." (www.dfwstormwater.com) The definition shows that storm water is a result of human development on the Earth's surface. Since the first human beings walked on the earth the nature took its own course of infiltrating water. The soil and vegetation accept and absorb rain and make it part of the living ecosystem. When the human being began to alter the course of nature he realised that he had to solve problems he created himself. So the integration between man and nature is essential. In the Bible 'The Book of Revelation' refers to clean and clear water in a river coming through God, as only benefit is obtained since its origin is immaculate as once the Earth was before became altered by humans. "the angel then showed me the river of life-giving water, clear as crystal, which issued from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowed down the middle of the streets. On either side of the river grew trees of life which produce fruit twelve times a year, once each month; their leaves serve as medicine for the nations . ...... " The rapid change in land cover due to development increased and water run-off is becoming more hazardous on human lives. Storm water could be seen as a threat to human health, varying from floods generated from large quantities of surface run-off water, which could be fatal, together with the reduction of groundwater resources to the deterioration of water quality. Consequently solutions to these problems exist and are always improving and the tools to implement them are the will power and the economic aspect. In recent centuries the population in Malta has exploded and the demand for resources especially water and land, increased significantly ending up with a great impact in the lack of sustainable development.