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1. What is stormwater and stormwater runoff?

As the name implies, stormwater is water from a storm (rain, melting snow, or ice). Stormwater runoff is stormwater that does not soak into the ground, but flows across outdoor surfaces like roads, sidewalks, lawns, driveways and parking lots, and drains into water bodies. Unlike water used within homes and businesses which flows to a water treatment plant, stormwater runoff is not treated and flows directly to rivers, streams, and oceans.

2. What is stormwater pollution?

While traveling to water bodies, stormwater runoff can pick up a variety of substances which then pollutes these bodies of water. These substances can include:

• Chemicals
• Detergents
• Fertilizer
• Grease
• Litter
• Oil
• Pesticides
• Pet waste, etc.

This is known as “Stormwater Pollution.” The best way to keep water clean is to keep pollutants off the ground and out of the path of stormwater runoff, so that only clean water enters the water bodies.