What is Stormwater Management?
Stormwater Management is a mechanism for controlling stormwater runoff. These practices are incorporated into the design of a development to mitigate any impacts the development may have on the aquatic environment. Stormwater Management practices address two major issues, the quantity or volume of stormwater and the quality of the stormwater. Stormwater Quantity – Pervious (or vegetated) surfaces, such as fields, meadows and woodlands, absorb and infiltrate rainfall and generate little runoff. As land develops, these areas are typically covered with impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops. These impervious surfaces generate more runoff every time it rains. The quantity of runoff from these areas can overwhelm natural channels and streams. Stormwater Management practices are designed to offset these increases in runoff. Stormwater Quality – The pervious and impervious surfaces in the urbanized landscape collect pollutants such as automobile oil, grease, brake pad dust, sedime
Stormwater is the runoff that comes from parking lots and rooftops and flows into our storm drains and streams carrying silt, debris, fertilizer and other pollutants with it. Since stormwater runoff is untreated, pollutants end up in our lakes and other water resources. In addition to adding pollutants to stormwater, urban development increases the amount and velocity of runoff that occurs, so that downstream properties are flooded, channels and streams become eroded over time, and natural beauty and habitat are lost. In the past, urban drainage systems were developed to address only one concernto carry runoff from a major storm safely through the area being developed. Little attention was given to downstream impacts on flooding, water quality or maintenance. Stormwater management is an approach that integrates all aspects of stormwater runoff to protect the environment and provide the highest quality of life for current and future generations. Stormwater is managed by integrating it i
Stormwater Management is the process of controlling the runoff that comes primarily from impervious surfaces like parking lots, driveways and roof tops. In Roanoke County, the stormwater system is separate from the sanitary sewer system. Stormwater flows directly from streets and gutters into our streams and rivers, often with little or no treatment. Stormwater can also transport pollutants that collect on these hard surfaces such as motor oil, household cleaners, and other materials which may negatively impact water quality.
“Stormwater Management” means:(a) For quantitative control, a system of vegetative, structural, and other measures that control the increased volume and rate of surface runoff caused by man-made changes to the land; and (b) For qualitative control, a system of vegetative, structural, and other measures that reduce or eliminate pollutants that may otherwise be carried by surface runoff.
The planned set of public policies and activities undertaken to regulate runoff and reduce erosion, and maintain or improve water quality under various specified conditions within various portions of the drainage system. It may establish criteria for controlling peak flows and/or runoff volumes, for runoff detention and retention, or for pollution control, and may specify criteria for the relative elevations among various elements of the drainage system. Stormwater management is primarily concerned with limiting future flood damages and environmental impacts due to development, whereas flood control aims at reducing the extent of flooding that occurs under current conditions.
