Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater? 

It is water from precipitation that flows across the ground and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. Stormwater is the only water available for recharging local groundwater supplies. There are small changes each of us can make to improve the quality of the stormwater runoff.

Businesses also need to be aware that things they do or products they use in their daily operations can enter the stormwater system and effect our water sources. Visit the National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) site to learn what stormwater practices are required by law and what businesses can do help keep pollutants out of the stormwater system. Information specific to the construction industry can be found at the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance site. Information specific to the automotive industry can be found at Environmental Compliance for Automotive Recyclers.

1. Pick up after your pets and keep livestock out of streams. Pet and animal wastes can carry harmful bacteria and diseases. They contaminate creeks and require expensive water treatment for human uses.

2. Never dump anything down a storm drain! Stormwater systems do not filter pollutants from stormwater so anything that goes down the storm drain will very likely end up in the nearest creek.

3. Maintain open, forested floodplains. Floodplains are critical landforms that absorb water during high water events and act as giant filters the rest of the time. Filling them or paving them increases flooding and pollution elsewhere.

4. Plant trees and maintain naturally vegetated streamside buffers. Streamside trees and native vegetation help filter pollutants from stormwater fun-off and reduce erosion by holding stream bank soils in place.

5. Convert large yards or public spaces from mown grass to meadows. The typical suburban lawn is nearly as impervious as a parking lot. Native meadow grasses infiltrated stormwater better and provide critical habitat for grassland birds.

6. Cut back on lawn fertilizers and pesticides. Much of the fertilizer you apply in the spring flows directly into the local creeks because the grass is not ready to absorb it. Use a mulching mower set at 3 inches to create a healthy, organic lawn. Fertilize only in the fall.

7. Disconnect your downspout from the storm drain. Rainwater from your roof is just as damaging to creeks and streams as run-off from a parking lot. Let your yard help filter out impurities and infiltrate stormwater back into your aquifer.

8. Convert a corner of your yard to a rain garden. A wet area in your yard can be considered a nuisance or an amenity, depending on how you manage it. It it’s wet, look for native plants that like occasional “wet feet” and create a visual focal point.

9. Keep your paved surfaces to a minimum. Patios and parking spaces can be created with attractive pervious materials that allow stormwater infiltration to the soils below.

10. Maintain your septic tank. Septic tank maintenance sure isn’t sexy but with thousands of on-lot septic systems in our communities, proper maintenance is critical to protecting groundwater and surface water from contamination.