Surface sealing and the water balance

The report explores how impervious surfaces influence the water balance, focusing on surface runoff, evapotranspiration, and infiltration. Through case studies in Leipzig, Dessau, Munich, and the Grote-Nete catchment in Belgium, it reveals a consistent linear increase in surface runoff with higher imperviousness across German cities. In contrast, evapotranspiration and infiltration decrease but show less clear patterns. The findings indicate that variations in precipitation levels do not significantly alter the overall impact on the water balance.