Humans are constantly modifying the environment in ways intended to enhance our quality of life. Anthropized ecosystems, such as reservoirs or agricultural fields, are ecosystems that are designed, constructed, and/or managed to provide a specific service. Typically, anthropized ecosystems provide a multitude of unintentional services (and disservices) as well. Permanently inundated stormwater ponds (SWPs), a common example of an anthropized ecosystem, are designed to protect downstream ecosystems via flood control and pollutant removal, but they can also promote biodiversity and influence surrounding socioeconomic dynamics. SWPs are ubiquitous throughout Florida and are often expected to provide social benefits beyond their intended services. For example, property values near ponds in Florida are often elevated due to being considered ‘lake-front property’, which can influence societal expectations of SWPs. Despite the intended services, SWPs can be net sources of pollutants, negatively affecting downstream water quality. While there may be a disconnect between expectation (pollutant removal) and reality (ponds as sources of pollutants), relatively little is known about the biogeochemical mechanisms occurring within SWPs. Here we present results from ongoing research focused on internal biogeochemical processes occurring within SWPs, how natural water bodies are affected by SWPs, and potential ways to enhance SWP functioning. Specifically, we have found that 1) despite the typical assumption of N pollution in urban waters, SWP denitrification may be N limited under baseline conditions; 2) urban ponds are more likely to be net N-fixing than natural ponds; and 3) ponds exhibit distinct metabolic signatures compared to urban streams, but pond effluent can influence stream biogeochemical dynamics. Stormwater ponds and other anthropized ecosystems provide novel environments to ask questions related to a range of fundamental ecological concepts. Improving our understanding of how these ‘artificial’ aquatic environments function can shed light on novel ecological dynamics while also providing myriad benefits for society.