Noise levels can be challenging in urban environments and a source of sensory overload. “Unwanted noises” such as traffic, sirens, and even conversations can sometimes be deafening. Positive or negative, the sounds of our surroundings influence our lives. Humans have a sound threshold that ranges from 0 decibels to 140 dB, at which point we generally experience some level of associated pain, and at 165 dB there can be permanent damage to the ear canal. In a report published by the EPA in 1974, the ideal noise level for us is about 55 dB outdoors and 45 dB indoors before “interference and annoyance” occurs. Additionally, levels should not exceed more than 70 dB for a 24-hour period to prevent hearing loss or damage later in life. To get some perspective on how this compares to real world noises; in the New York subway a range between 106 and 112 dB has been recorded, while the level of a 'bubbling brook' is around 20 dB. While most would probably consider the sound of "stream" to be a positive sound, many urban noises can have undesirable results. Sometimes the effect of this unwanted noise is minimal, such as the inability to hear a conversation, other times it has a greater impact on health and well-being, such as loss of sleep, change in mood or a trigger for disturbance from post-traumatic stress. This disruption and exposure to negative sounds can lead to the need for restoration. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The sound of water has a positive effect on the human brain and body. Human life begins in our mother's womb by hearing "swooshing" sounds similar to the sound of the ocean. As if somehow cosmically connected, the frequency and rhythm of water are like that of human breathing. Every year people flock to the seaside, some just to hear the sound of the waves crashing onto the land. For me, it's the sound of rain hitting a river or lake, the rush of water from the paddle across the water, and sometimes, that muffled "whooshing" silence you get when your ears dip below the surface of the water . It is relaxing and calming, accompanied by a sense of “weightlessness” that surpasses the literal gravity of my actual being. Activity in the medial prefrontal cortex is activated by the sound of water, the part of the brain that is strongly correlated with creativity, emotions, self-image and intuition. The described emotions that arise while listening to or being near water are similar to those experienced while listening to music, such as “joy, sadness, tension, wonder, serenity, power, nostalgia, transcendence.” The use of water features in urban environments can be used to attract people and provide a moment of refreshment. Parks with water features tend to be crowded with people, especially in the summer. Fountains can become landmarks or points of interest and sometimes the watering hole for local and passing birds and other wildlife. In Rome and Venice, Italy, it's easy to miss public drinking fountains disguised as works of art. Water constantly flows from decorative fountains, offering locals or visitors a chance to fill a water bottle and a moment of escape and refreshment. Even pocket parks in urban environments with flowing or falling water, such as Paley Park in New York City, have the ability to muffle noise from the surrounding city allowing the visitor a moment of escape and relaxation. If the water element is integrated with stormwater management, it can.