How can land use practices impact drinking water quality?

Land use practices can significantly impact drinking water quality, particularly through their influence on runoff and the potential for contamination. When land is developed for agricultural, urban, or industrial purposes, it often changes the natural landscape, leading to increased impermeable surfaces such as roads and buildings. These surfaces prevent water from soaking into the ground, resulting in greater runoff during rainfall events.

This runoff can carry a variety of contaminants, including fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals, and sediments, directly into water bodies that supply drinking water. Therefore, how land is utilized determines not only the volume of runoff but also the quality of the water that reaches treatment facilities or natural water sources.

Conversely, practices aimed at preserving natural landscapes, such as wetlands or forests, can help reduce the volume of runoff and filter out contaminants before they enter water bodies. This illustrates the critical relationship between land use practices and the management of drinking water quality.