Enacting Ordinances for the Hydration of Our Landscapes

It is time to acknowledge and codify the natural rights of the earth to retain the rainwater that falls upon it. Such recognition marks a paradigm shift from the prevailing approach of channeling stormwater swiftly out of our communities, toward a model that honors the earth’s intrinsic capacity to hydrate, cool, and nourish itself.

There are rational mechanisms and far-reaching benefits to granting the earth the right to hold its rainwater, fostering a holistic vision for greener, more resilient municipalities.

Modern urban development has largely ignored the fragile balance of the natural water cycle. While annual rainfall amounts have stayed relatively steady over decades, our interaction with this rainfall has changed significantly. Where vegetation and porous soils once absorbed and stored rainwater, offering slow release and filtration, our cities now have extensive hardscapes—roads, parking lots, sidewalks, rooftops—impervious surfaces that speed up the movement of water toward drains, rivers, and eventually the sea.

As stormwater flows over cement and asphalt, it warms and collects pollutants like oils, heavy metals, sediments, and more. The heat and contaminants carried downstream affect aquatic ecosystems and the ocean. The warming of freshwater as it moves through urban heat islands increases thermal pollution, while the transfer of heat and freshwater to the sea influences ocean currents. For instance, the Gulf Stream is strengthened by increased runoff, carrying more warmth toward Arctic areas.

At the heart of a new approach to stormwater management is recognizing the earth’s need—and right—to retain the water that falls upon it. This view challenges the assumption that rainwater is just a nuisance to be quickly drained away. Instead, it considers water a vital resource, best kept where it lands to support the complex web of soil life, plant growth, and local climate regulation.

Allowing rainwater to soak into soils instead of rushing into drainage systems offers immediate ecological benefits. Moist soils promote robust photosynthesis and biomass growth, as roots access water during dry periods. The microbial life in moist soils thrives, breaking down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and enhancing soil structure. This, in turn, boosts the resilience of landscapes to drought and erosion.

The benefits of natural rights for earth hydration go beyond ecological concerns. Property owners benefit directly when rainwater soaks into their land. Moist soil supports lush landscaping, productive gardens, and healthy trees—all of which boost property values, lower irrigation costs, and enhance local biodiversity. Retaining rainwater is therefore an investment in the health and beauty of both private and public spaces.

Stormwater infrastructure—such as conduits, pipes, retention basins, and treatment plants—signifies a major expense for municipalities. By redesigning landscapes to absorb and hold water, towns can decrease the volume of runoff that requires expensive management. Green infrastructure methods, including rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, cisterns, French drains, pocket forests, and restored wetlands, redirect water into the ground, lowering flood risk and saving taxpayer money.

During drought periods, the health of streams and rivers relies on the gradual release of groundwater. When rainwater soaks into soils and recharges aquifers, surface waters are supplied by cool groundwater, which helps preserve habitat quality and support fish and other wildlife. On the other hand, rapid runoff worsens temperature increases and harms aquatic life.

Flooding disproportionately affects residents of low-lying and economically vulnerable areas. By eliminating excess stormwater through earth hydration, municipalities can lower flood risks and help protect at-risk communities. This method promotes fairer and more affordable living conditions, ensuring stormwater management costs do not disproportionately burden those who can least afford it.

Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas, with eight times the volume of carbon dioxide (CO2 is 11% of greenhouse gases). When rainwater is absorbed into the ground, less water evaporates into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of heat-trapping water vapor. Additionally, moist soils and healthy vegetation boost carbon sequestration, where carbon is stored for over a thousand years, further helping the climate. Shade from lush trees and plants lessens urban heat islands, lowering temperatures and decreasing energy use.

Municipalities that recognize and enforce the natural rights of the earth to retain rainwater experience a transformation. Landscapes become greener, providing shade and habitat. Flooding decreases, and urban temperatures moderate. The prosperity of the community is reflected in its vibrant parks, resilient neighborhoods, and healthy residents.

For municipalities to embrace this vision, ordinances must be enacted that affirm the earth’s right to hold the rainwater that falls upon it. Such policies might include:

• Requiring new developments to incorporate permeable surfaces and green infrastructure
• Mandating on-site stormwater retention and infiltration for buildings and parking lots
• Providing incentives for property owners to create holding ponds, rain gardens, plant trees, and minimize hardscape
• Restoring urban green spaces, wetlands, and riparian corridors
• Educating the public about the value of local earth hydration and soil stewardship
• Monitoring urban heat islands and stormwater impacts to guide adaptive management

Transforming municipal water policy requires overcoming inertia and resistance. Developers may lobby for conventional approaches; engineers may prefer familiar designs. Yet, the opportunity to reorient the built environment toward ecological harmony is compelling. Pilot projects, demonstration sites, and community engagement can showcase the tangible benefits of earth hydration.

Rainwater is a gift to cherish, not a burden. By recognizing the natural rights of the earth to retain and use water, municipalities can foster landscapes that are resilient, beautiful, and climate-friendly. The journey toward greener, cooler, and more prosperous towns begins with a simple, profound act: letting the earth keep the water that falls upon it.