Stormwater - Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management

Managing the quantity and quality of stormwater is termed, "Stormwater Management." The term Best Management Practice (BMP) is often used to refer to both structural or engineered control devices and systems (e.g. retention ponds) to treat polluted stormwater, as well as operational or procedural practices. Stormwater management includes both technical and institutional aspects, including:
• manage stormwater to control flooding and erosion;
• manage and control hazardous materials to prevent release of pollutants into the environment (source control);
• plan and construct stormwater systems so contaminants are removed before they pollute surface waters or groundwater resources;
• acquire and protect natural waterways where they still exist or can be rehabilitated;
• build "soft" structures such as ponds, swales or wetlands or newer Green Infrastructure solutions to work with existing or "hard" drainage structures, such as pipes and concrete channels;
• revise current stormwater regulations to address comprehensive stormwater needs;
• develop funding approaches to stormwater programs potentially including stormwater user fees;
• develop long-term asset management programs to repair and replace aging infrastructure;
• enhance and enforce existing ordinances to make sure property owners consider the effects of stormwater before, during and after development of their land;
• educate a community about how its actions affect water quality, and about what it can do to improve water quality; and
• plan carefully to create solutions before problems become too great.