What best describes the relationship between urbanization and natural water flow?

Urbanization significantly alters the landscape and introduces impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and parking lots, which prevents water from being absorbed into the ground. As a result, natural water flow is decreased because the natural processes of absorption and percolation are disrupted. This leads to increased surface runoff, which can overwhelm drainage systems and result in flooding.

Moreover, urban development often changes natural watercourses and can lead to the degradation of wetlands, which play a critical role in regulating water flow and maintaining ecological balance. The combination of these factors directly contributes to a decrease in the availability of groundwater and alters the hydrology of the area, making option B the most accurate description of the relationship between urbanization and natural water flow.