What is a potential consequence of increased rainfall intensity on drainage systems?

Increased rainfall intensity can lead to significant challenges to the effectiveness of drainage systems. When rainfall occurs at a higher intensity, the volume of water entering the drainage system may exceed its capacity to handle it efficiently. This can result in water accumulation, flooding, and potential overloading of the drainage infrastructure, which is often designed for average rain conditions rather than extreme events.

Moreover, sudden and intense rainfall can cause surface runoff to overwhelm existing drainage paths, leading to erosion, sediment transport, and blockages in the system. Consequently, this can compromise the functionality and overall reliability of drainage solutions, necessitating upgrades or increased maintenance to ensure that systems can cope with these extreme weather patterns effectively.

The other options do not reflect the reality of how increased rainfall intensity affects drainage systems, as they suggest improvements or benefits that simply do not materialize under such conditions.