What is the primary environmental consideration when working with asphalt?

The primary environmental consideration when working with asphalt is water runoff. This is critical because asphalt surfaces can create impermeable barriers that prevent water from being absorbed into the ground. As a result, rainwater can flow over these surfaces, leading to increased runoff, which can cause erosion, water pollution, and flooding in nearby areas. Managing how water interacts with asphalt is essential for minimizing environmental impact, as runoff can carry pollutants such as oils and heavy metals into natural waterways.

While considerations like noise pollution, air quality, and heat retention are important, they are secondary in the context of how asphalt directly affects water management. Noise pollution may arise from vehicles traveling on asphalt, air quality can be impacted by the emissions from asphalt production, and heat retention relates to the urban heat island effect, but water runoff poses a more immediate threat to the environment by directly affecting water ecosystems and municipal drainage systems.