Water runoff is a byproduct of the urban realm. And, man, what a waste.

Cities are comprised of a lot of hard surfaces. Buildings, sidewalks, and roads all contribute to the problem — and Atlanta sure has a lot of roads. While precipitation in less built-up areas can find its way into the ground, it can be tough for that to happen in the city. And that can cause flooding, erosion, and the overflowing of sewers.

But now, according to Patch, Atlanta is hoping to offset the effects of runoff in the city, aiming to reduce it by as much as 225 million gallons a year. To lend some perspective, that's enough to fill 341 Olympic swimming pools, or 426 million two-liter bottles.

Under a proposal called "The Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan," a range of projects will be implemented across the city to capture H2O.

Look for more installations of permeably paved streets, as was done in Peoplestown, Summerhill, and Mechanicsville. Also, traditional stormwater pipes and retention elements will be reimagined with more natural drainage solutions, a la those at Historic Fourth Ward Park.

Bring on the rain.