Stormwater Management
1. Reducing pollutants in runoff
•
•
•
•
•
Pesticides and chemicals
Pet and animal wastes
Automotive wastes
Winter salts and deicers
Grass clippings and yard
wastes
2. Controlling runoff
•
Preventing soil erosion
•
Minimizing paved
surfaces
•
Basement flood
protection
•
Roof drainage
•
Landscaping
STORMWATER
CONCERNS
• Sediment
• Nutrients
• Hazardous
chemicals
Stormwater
Water from rain or melted
snow that does not soak into
the ground
Runoff
Becomes
Flowing stormwater
that picks up soil, pet wastes, salts,
fertilizers, pesticides, oil, grease, yard
wastes, litter and other pollutants
But where does it all go?

To our
Streams,
Lakes &
Rivers
What’s the Result?
Bacteria and parasites from
animals wastes
 Drinking water contamination
Basement and lower level
floodings
Ecological
Concerns
 Degradation of lakes,
rivers and wetlands
 Algal growth from inputs
of phosphorus
 Loss of habitat due to
cloudiness of water
 Toxic chemicals threaten
aquatic life
Floor Drains and...
STORM DRAINS
collect
more
than
rainfall...
* Minimize amount of Pavement.
* Serpentine or traversing pathways.
Direct gutters onto vegetation,
rather than paved surfaces.
* PLANT A RAIN GARDEN!
 Native
soils, flowers and
vegetation
 Reduces
runoff from
roofs or impervious
surfaces
 Infiltrates
rain water so
garden is dry between
rainfalls
 Low
maintenance
 Provides
habitat for
native wildlife
Painted by Michigan artist Ruth Zachary
You can prevent Runoff
problems!
REDUCE POLLUTANTS IN RUNOFF
BY:
 Store chemicals in Secondary
containment
 Properly clean chemical spills
immediately
Wash vehicles at a commercial car wash
facility
 Dispose of animal wastes properly
 Clean yard debris from paved surfaces
Manage Runoff
Around Your
Home By:
 Seeding and topping bare
soil
 Placing sediment barriers
 Minimizing paved surfaces
 Diverting stormwater from
basement windows
 Directing roof drainage onto
lawn or garden
Example of
sediment barrier
 Landscape to slow water
flow
Questions?
THANK YOU!