How does soil degradation affect water?

The answer

Degraded soils absorb less rain, so more water runs off, increasing flooding and carrying sediment and nutrients into streams, rivers and reservoirs. Compacted and crusted soils also store less water for plants, so crops suffer sooner in dry spells. Healthy, well-structured soil acts like a sponge and a filter, holding rain, releasing it slowly and buffering pollutants before they reach groundwater. Muddy runoff after rain is one of the easiest warning signs to see.