Hydrology focuses on the movement, frequency and distribution of water. Water enters a site via rainfall and the flows of surface and ground water. The force of gravity causes water to flow in a continuous search for the lowest point of the land. How the water moves will depend on the degree of a slope (how steep the land is), slope aspect (the direction the slope is facing), geological influences such as rock type, soil type, vegetation, and human influence. Dominica's terrain, geological make-up and climate would suggest that most if not all sites around the island fall within a water catchment – an area which is drained by a river system. Water is everywhere and the impacts of the hydrology will not only affect the development and structures within a site but also the surrounding areas. These impacts can lead to landslides, erosion, flooding, trapped water and/or the lack of water and contamination. The design of a development should be influenced by the site's hydrology.
