What are runoff systems?

A runoff system is like a river that helps carry water from one place to another after it rains.

Imagine you're playing in a sandbox, and you pour water over the sand. The water flows down the sides of the sandbox, that’s just like runoff! In real life, when rain falls on the ground, some of it soaks into the soil, but the rest runs off the surface, following paths like streams or rivers until it reaches a bigger body of water, such as a lake or ocean.

Think of a runoff system as a team of helpers. When it rains:

• Some water goes into the ground, this is like when you dig a hole in your sandbox and let the water soak in.
• The rest flows on top, just like how water would spill over the edge if your sandbox was full.

These flowing waters join together, forming streams and rivers, which are part of the runoff system. They keep moving until they get to a lake or the sea, where they might rest for a while before starting all over again, like when you pour water into a bigger bucket after it's full!