The Role of Stormwater Best Management Practices in Controlling Waterborne Diseases Across Florida with Special Attention to Environmental Justice

Abstract

There has been a growing concern about waterborne disease prevalence, especially in underserved communities. Stormwater best management practices (BMPs) can control surface runoff, and improve water quality by restoring the pre-development hydrologic cycle while providing social, economic, and health benefits. Although stormwater BMPs have been proven to effectively impact runoff quantity and quality, their effectiveness in waterborne disease reduction has not been investigated. In this study, we quantified for the first time the impact of BMPs on reducing waterborne diseases in underserved communities. We developed a geographic information system (GIS) – based framework to create multi-metric vulnerability indices identifying counties’ susceptibility to waterborne diseases considering environmental justice (race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status) and at-risk age groups (under 5 and over 74) in Florida. The most vulnerable counties were then investigated for disease reduction by stormwater BMP implementation. Our findings indicated disproportionate occurrences of waterborne diseases in communities with higher minorities (Hispanics and Nonwhites), at-risk age groups, and low-income populations. Among evaluated BMPs, wetland basin, porous pavement, and retention pond were the most efficient in reducing cases of waterborne diseases with over 80% efficiency. Our findings demonstrate the need for stormwater BMPs that take socioeconomic status and racial diversity into account.