What is stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off roofs, driveways, parking lots, streets, and other hard surfaces during rain storms. Rather than being absorbed into the ground, it pours into ditches, culverts, catch basins and storm sewers. It does not receive any treatment before entering the streams and lakes, and does not go from street drains to wastewater treatment plants.
Stormwater occurs naturally when it rains or snows. You probably have looked out the window of your home on a particularly rainy day and noticed the water flowing down the sides of the street. Where is it going? Well, water running off your yard, sidewalk or street flows down to the curb and into the nearest storm drain. From there, it flows into the storm drain system, a vast network of underground pipes and tunnels that carry it to nearby streams and lakes. Contrary to popular belief, stormwater normally does NOT go to the sewage treatment plant.
