Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management

What is stormwater?
Stormwater is the water that runs off the land surface when it rains or when snow melts. It enters the Town’s storm drain system and is transported to waterbodies (streams, rivers, wetlands and the ocean).

Why does stormwater matter?
Stormwater typically contains a number of pollutants, such as oil, grease, soapy water, sand and dirt from roads and parking lots, pesticides and fertilizers from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and trash such as cigarette butts, wrappers, and plastic bottles. When these pollutants enter water bodies, they can pollute the beaches, hinder recreation, and harm aquatic and other wildlife habitats. Improperly managed storm water runoff can result in flooding and erosion, too.

On “natural” land with vegetation, stormwater usually infiltrates into the ground or is lost to evaporation. Impervious surfaces like streets, parking lots, and rooftops prevent rain and snowmelt from soaking into the ground and therefore create extra runoff.

Why is Stormwater Management Important?
Managing stormwater is essential to reduce flooding that results when natural areas that previously absorb excess rainfall and snow melt are converted to impervious surfaces.  The traditional approach described above focuses on moving stormwater away from development as quickly as possible through the underground pipe system.  Nationwide recognition of negative consequences associated with this approach has been growing steadily, as has the development of low impact development technologies or best management practices (BMPs).  These BMPs address the negative aspects of the traditional approach, which include water quality degradation, increased flood hazards, loss of aquatic and riparian habitat and negative impacts to sensitive ecosystems including the oceans that collect all upstream pollution.