Surface runoff

Surface runoff is like a big puddle of water that starts when it rains or snows. Imagine you have a big pile of sand in your backyard and you pour a bucket of water on top of it. The water will start to flow down the sides of the pile and make a little stream or river on the ground. This is what happens on a larger scale when it rains on the land.

The water from the rain or snowfall will hit the ground and either seep into the soil or start to flow downhill. If the ground is really hard and the rain is heavy, the water will not be able to soak into the ground and will start to flow on top of it. This is called surface runoff. This water will create little streams and eventually make it into larger bodies of water like rivers or oceans.

Sometimes, surface runoff can be dangerous because it can carry things like pollution or garbage into the water. It can also cause erosion, which means it can wash away the soil and make it harder for plants to grow. It's important for people to try and reduce the amount of pollution that goes into the water so that it stays clean and safe for animals and people.