Water pollutants

Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in cities (urban areas) compared to the countryside (rural areas).

The likelihood of flooding increases in cities, partly because of the amount of hard (impermeable) surfaces.  Poor water management and drainage systems that are over-capacity can also add to flood risk.

Bodies of water in urban areas can contain a variety of pollutants from multiple sources.

These pollutants are:

• Chemicals from industry and road run-off
• Sewage from waste treatment plants and from farmland
• Discarded litter

The risk of being harmed by these pollutants increases when flooding occurs. This is because the water enters spaces it does not usually occupy, coming into contact with people, and these spaces might not be cleaned properly when the water has gone.