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STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT
Stormwater…
What does it all mean??
Stormwater is rainwater or snowmelt that, instead of
seeping into the earth, "runs off" via gutters, storm
drains and ditches into creeks, streams, rivers, lakes,
and the ocean.
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Although it is a necessary part of the natural water cycle,
storm water can also be an environmental concern. As storm
water flows over the land, it collects contaminants such as
oil and grease from roadways, pesticides and fertilizers from
lawns, sediment from construction sites, and discarded trash,
which can degrade water quality, and the health of surrounding
plants and animals. It is estimated that 70 percent of the
water pollution in the United States comes from storm water
and other indirect discharges collectively known as "non-point"
pollution sources.
Municipal storm sewers, also known as storm drains, are separate
from the sanitary sewer system. They do not treat storm water
but rather work to convey the storm water off the streets
directly to the nearest stream or creek, as storm drains are
designed to quickly remove runoff from streets to help prevent
flooding. These also means that anytime a person might pour
into or dispose of anything into a storm drain, it all goes
directly into our lakes the next time it rains.
The
quality of stormwater runoff is only one half of the stormwater
picture; the quantity of stormwater runoff poses its own problems.
Increased development brings more streets, parking lots, rooftops,
and other surfaces that shed water instead of absorbing it.
One inch of rain falling on a one-acre parking lot produces
16 times more runoff than the same inch of rain falling on
a one-acre meadow. Localized urban flooding, erosion and souring
of streambeds are some impacts caused by increased stormwater
runoff quantity.
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