Definition of Stormwater
Stormwater creation
Stormwater is a key component of the overall water cycle.
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater includes:
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Rainwater
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Snowmelt
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Water from sources like a garden hose or car wash
It is water that runs off impervious surfaces such as driveways, parking lots, and rooftops, making its way into a gutter, ditch, or roadside drain, and eventually into the storm drain system.
Where does the water go?
When precipitation falls to Earth:
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Some is absorbed into the ground.
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Some makes its way directly into streams and rivers.
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Some eventually reaches the oceans.
In our area, stormwater does not go to a treatment plant. This means any pollutants carried by stormwater are directly discharged into local waterways and the environment.
What is a stormwater drain system?
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In a natural environment, stormwater is typically managed by the earth: some soaks directly into soils and soft surfaces, and the rest runs into streams.
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In our urban setting, however, a much greater amount of stormwater runs off impervious surfaces like:
- Rooftops
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Asphalt
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This increased runoff is directed into the storm drain system, and ultimately, into our local waterways.