Why is there a need for stormwater management?
“Due to construction and growth in the county, stormwater that used to be absorbed into the ground is now funneled away by roofs, driveways, parking lots and roads,” said Chuck Jarman, Manager of the Charleston County Stormwater Management Program. The stormwater system, which consists of gutters, catch basins, storm sewers, retention basins, drainage ditches and stream channels, carries stormwater away from development and into area water supplies to prevent flooding and environmental damage. “We have seen dramatic growth along coastal areas, and stormwater management can no longer be addressed solely by building larger pipes and drains,” Jarman said. Harmful entities in runoff include, but are not limited to, construction site erosion, pollution from dumping in creeks and rivers, oil leaks from cars and trucks onto parking lots and streets, and pet waste. “The stormwater runoff system must be looked at from a regional perspective,” Jarman said. “All properties, regardless of their lo
