Stormwater 101 – Noticing the Small Things
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Collapse ▲-Article provided by Extension Associate, Amber Ellis
Engineering is all around us, but the average person rarely thinks about it. When commuters cross bridges on the way to work, there’s no need for them to think of structural engineering calculations. When I text a friend, I never consider the electrical engineering feats that make up my tiny pocket computer. Even when I do stop to appreciate the workmanship that makes modern life possible, there’s not much I can offer beyond admiration. Stormwater is different, however, in that it offers the opportunity for anyone to partner in addressing problems engineers seek to solve. Together, we can improve our community; all we need is a little background knowledge:
Urbanization transitions landscapes from natural, permeable surfaces to constructed, impermeable ones. For example, landscapes that were once forests or meadows may now be neighborhoods or schools. When it rains, precipitation that would have infiltrated into the soil is redirected by these new roads and rooftops as runoff. Runoff can increase the risk of local flooding and transport pollutants such as sediment and nutrients into local waterways.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has named this nonpoint source pollution one of the leading causes of water quality impairment, and it has far-reaching impacts, including habitat destruction and human drinking water hazards. Stormwater control measures are engineered systems, such as ponds, that are designed to mitigate stormwater runoff impacts. Stormwater engineers spend most of their time and energy creating these systems to treat large parcels and entire developments.
While these systems provide necessary treatment, they aren’t our only stormwater tool. Individual homeowners, residents, and community groups can tackle the problem at the source. Simply directing downspouts from your home away from driveways and toward vegetated areas can reduce runoff by 30-85%! Similarly, rain gardens and rain barrels can reduce runoff, intercepting it before it accumulates pollutants or raises creek levels. Even an act as small as picking up your pet waste can have drastic effects on reducing local pollutant loads. So, while you won’t be designing ponds anytime soon, the next time it rains, see if you can notice where the water is headed and if there’s anything you can do to help.
