What is a common challenge in managing water quality in North Carolina?

Urban development and its impact on runoff is indeed a common challenge in managing water quality in North Carolina. As urban areas grow, impervious surfaces like roads, parking lots, and buildings increase, which prevents water from soaking into the ground. Instead, rainwater runs off these surfaces, picking up pollutants such as oil, heavy metals, and chemicals before entering local water bodies. This runoff can lead to elevated levels of contaminants in waterways, affecting both aquatic ecosystems and human health.

In contrast, an abundance of natural water filtration systems is not a challenge but rather a benefit, as wetlands and forests help filter and purify water. Low agricultural activities would typically result in fewer pollutants entering waterways, thereby not posing a challenge. Effective legislation, while it can have its hurdles, serves as a tool to promote better water management practices rather than complicate the situation. Thus, urban development presents tangible issues needing management strategies to mitigate its effects on water quality.