Learn more about Stormwater Management
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that doesn’t soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and through sloped lawns while picking up a variety of materials on its way. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports soil, animal waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizers, oil and grease, debris and other potential pollutants. The quality of runoff is affected by a variety of factors and depends on the season, local geography and activities which lie in the path of the flow.
Why should I care?
Did you know that half of the impaired waterways in the country are directly linked to stormwater runoff from urban/suburban areas and construction site activities?
Stormwater gathers a variety of pollutants that are mobilized during runoff events. Polluted runoff degrades our lakes, rivers, wetland and other waterways runoff. Transported soil clouds the waterway and interferes with the habitat of fish and plant life.
Consider for a moment the impacts that pollutants generated from everyday life have on our local water resources.
Fertilizers high in nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can promote the overgrowth of algae. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can’t exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.
Toxic chemicals from automobiles can lead to an increase in heavy metals, oils and greases.
Poorly managed construction sites have been blamed for erosion and sediment migration, property damage, and destruction of local habitat. Sediment from construction sites can cloud the water and clog fish’s gills so they can’t breathe and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grow.
Bacteria from animal wastes and poorly maintained septic systems can make nearby lakes unsafe for swimming.
And even roadside litter -plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts— can find its way into our treasured watershed, where it can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.
Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs.
