Water quality protection requires an understanding of basic environmental concepts, such as:
- concepts related to climate and microclimates
- concepts related to water, such as the hydrologic cycle and watersheds
- concepts related to soils, such as soil texture and soil moisture
- concepts related to geology, such as karst topography
Water, soils, and geology all play a role in environmental fate and transport mechanisms (such as runoff and leaching) that can contribute to water quality impacts. BMPs act on these fate and transport mechanisms to prevent water quality contamination.
