Stormwater and Landscapes Education (SWALE) is a special focus of The Valley Green Journal, created to bring together a diverse network of groups working to keep rain and snow where they belong, in the ground where the preciciptation lands.
This online network will guide you to some of the most cutting edge developments going on that are concerned with precipitation. I believe this is the most important environmental opportunity that we have for making a real positive difference for where we live and for the globe.
The New Water Paradigm is a way of re-thinking our rainwater management that recognizes that all the rain and snow that falls on our lands must be soaked up in the land in order to restore soils and vegetation, but even important, to restore local climates. Take a moment and think about how much stormwater is immediately shunted to flood our streams and rivers via storm drains and impervious surfaces such as roads and rooftops. It is a huge amount! Massive amounts of rainfall also run off crop fields and deforested timberlands. Moreover unvegetated surfaces heat up quckly in the sun, contributing directly to global warming, while vegetated areas can actually cool the earth through nature's climate moderation.
Water for the Recovery of the Climate-A New Water Paradigm, is the title of a very readable text, translated from the findings of a group of European researchers, that will inform you about the New Water Paradigm. Click on THE NEW WATER PARADIGM.
Below is a summary chart of the Old Water Paradigm vs. the New Water Paradigm, compiled from pp.72-73 of the book.
A Comparison of starting points and approaches according to the old and the new water paradigm
Old water paradigm |
New water paradigm |
The water on land does not influence global warming, which is caused by the growth in the volume of greenhouse gases produced by human activity. |
An important factor in global warming may be the change in the water cycle caused by the drying and subsequent warming of continents through human activity. |
The subject of research is the impact of global warming on the water cycle. |
The subject of research is the impact of changes in the water cycle on global warming. |
Urbanization, industrialisation and economic exploitation of a country has minimal impact on the water cycle. |
Urbanization, industrialisation and economic exploitation of a country (over about 40% of the area of the continents) has a fundamental impact on the influence of the water cycle. |
The impact of humanity on the water cycle is negligible and changes in the cycle cannot be reversed by human activity. |
The impact of humanity on the water cycle is at present considerable and its changes can go in both directions. |
Adverse climatic trends will increase, mitigation can perhaps be expected within a horizon of centuries. |
If the new approach to water is applied, a possible recovery of the climate can be expected within decades. |
Interest in the large water cycle, which seems difficult to influence, is dominant while the significance of the small water cycle is trivialized. |
Interest in the small water cycle dominates.
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The reason for extreme weather effects is global warming . |
The reason for extreme weather effects are changes in the water cycle. |
Global warming and extreme weather effects are inextricably linked.
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Global warming can exist without extremes of weather, extremes of weather can exist without global warming. |
Global warming is the main climatic problem for humanity. |
Extremes of weather are the main climatic problem for humanity. |
Vegetation is not ideal from the viewpoint of global warming because it has a low albedo (reflectivity); water vapor again increases the greenhouse effect. |
Water and vegetation alleviate unwanted temperature differences; cloudiness moderates the intensity of solar radiation falling on the Earth's surface. |
Speaks about the atmosphere as a greenhouse covering of the Earth. |
Speaks about the atmosphere as a protective covering for the Earth. |
Rising ocean levels are a result of melting icebergs. |
Rising ocean levels are a result of melting glaciers on land, but also of a decrease in soil moistures, levels of groundwater and the state of other waters on landmasses. |
Rainwater is an inconvenience and needs to be quickly removed. |
Rainwater is an asset that needs to be retained in soil/plants[1] |
The main source and reserve of water is surface water. |
The main source and reserve of water is groundwater. |
There is an impersonal attitude by owners and users of land (citizens, companies and offices) towards rainwater in a territory. |
A change in the anonymous approach to rainwater on an individual's land and the creation of a spirit of shared responsibility for water resources. |
Water is used only once for one purpose and then is sluiced away. |
Water can be used for more purposes, then purified and recycled[2] |
Water supplied to communities primarily through a system of mains with "potable" quality water. |
Water supplied through a system divided into potable and utility water. |
Mutual isolation of public policies in relation to water. |
Policies in relation to water are based on a thorough perception of water in the scope of a functioning water cycle in a country. |
A sectoral approach to managing water resources on land. |
Integrated management of water resources in a territory. |