Education
Storm Water Runoff
Storm water runoff is rain and melting snow that flows off building rooftops, driveways, lawns, streets, parking lots, construction sites, and industrial storage yards. Developed areas are covered by buildings and pavement which do not allow water to soak into the ground. Storm sewers are used to collect large amounts of runoff from streets and parking lots. But where does this water go?
Storm Sewers Discharge to Water Bodies
Storm sewers are pipes laid underground below streets. Unlike sanitary sewers which collect wastewater from homes and businesses and convey it to a wastewater treatment plant, storm sewers are separate pipes that collect storm water runoff from inlets, catch basins, or drains located along street curbs and in parking areas.
Usually storm water runoff flows over land or is discharged by storm sewers into nearby waterways or treatment devices. Waterways may be stream beds, rivers, or lakes. Treatment devices include rain gardens, swales, infiltration practices, wet ponds, and bioretention systems.
Contents
Pollutants on the streets and parking lots get washed away with the storm water runoff into waterways. Here are some of the types of pollutants in storm water runoff:
- Agricultural herbicides
- Bacteria
- Garbage
- Gasoline
- Grass clippings
- Heavy metals from roof shingles
- Illicit discharges such as paints, cleaning solution products and used motor oil
- Lawn pesticides
- Leaves
- Metal flakes from rusting vehicles and brakes
- Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen
- Oil and grease
- Other chemicals
- Pet waste
- Road salt
- Sediment from construction sites and urban runoff