What Is Stormwater Management and Why Is It Important?
Stormwater management is the practice of controlling runoff from storms. Learn how your business can use it to reduce flooding risk and improve water quality.
Managing stormwater responsibly is a vital part of protecting our environment and community. It maintains healthy waterways and ecosystems as stormwater runoff can carry pollutants from roads, lawns, and farms into local bodies of water. Without proper stormwater management techniques, these pollutants can accumulate over time, creating unhealthy conditions for the natural water cycle. Stormwater management also helps plan for extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and cyclones that can damage property and endanger lives. Find out what your business can do to protect the environment and ensure a healthier future for us all.
What Is Stormwater Management?
Stormwater management is the practice of controlling and managing runoff from rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation. It’s often referred to as “stormwater control” or “runoff management”. The goal is to minimise downstream flooding and erosion, while reducing the amount of pollutants before stormwater enters local waterways. Many strategies are used to manage stormwater runoff, including stormwater drains, detention basins and ponds, permeable pavement, green infrastructure such as rain gardens and vegetative buffers, and low-impact development (LID) practices that optimise land use.
Purpose of Stormwater Management
Stormwater management practices involve collecting, treating, and disposing of rainwater runoff in a manner that minimises its impact on the environment and ensures the sustainability of our communities. Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) is a holistic approach to stormwater management that incorporates green infrastructure like native plants and LID practices to reduce runoff volumes, slow the rate of water entering waterways, and improve water quality.
Why Is Stormwater Management so Important?
Stormwater management is a crucial aspect of preserving the health of our environment and ensuring community sustainability. As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns shift, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. This increases the risk of flooding and water-related damage in many areas. By implementing stormwater management strategies, communities can help reduce the impact of these events while also protecting local ecosystems and public health.
The following points explain why stormwater management is so important:
Maintain the Natural Hydrologic Cycle
Stormwater systems are an essential part of maintaining the natural hydrologic cycle. In a natural environment, rainwater is absorbed into the ground and replenishes groundwater, while excess water is channelled into rivers and streams. However, in urban areas, impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and parking lots prevent water absorption into the ground, leading to increased runoff and changes in the natural hydrologic cycle. Proper stormwater flows help maintain the natural hydrologic cycle by reducing runoff and allowing water to be absorbed into the ground.
Prevent an Increased Risk of Flooding
Flooding can damage homes, businesses, and infrastructure and lead to displacement of people and animals. Stormwater management helps prevent an increased risk of flooding by reducing runoff and controlling water flow into streams, rivers, and other water bodies.
Decrease Water Pollution
Stormwater runoff can pick up pollutants such as oil, grease, pesticides, fertilisers, and other chemicals, which can then be carried into our waterways and harm aquatic life. Stormwater management helps decrease water pollution by filtering pollutants out of runoff before it reaches our water sources.
Prevent Soil Erosion
Excessive runoff can also cause soil erosion, leading to serious environmental problems, including the loss of valuable topsoil and water quality degradation. Stormwater pipes and sewer systems help prevent soil erosion by reducing runoff and controlling water flow into streams, rivers, and other water bodies, which helps maintain the stability of the surrounding landscape.
Stormwater Management in Your Business
Stormwater management is essential for any business. If not managed carefully, pollutants such as chemicals, metals, and oils from rain runoff can damage nearby environments. Your business must identify potential contaminants in the stormwater and ensure they are discharged according to site licence conditions and applicable laws.
Ecospill provides practical solutions for businesses looking to implement effective stormwater management. From coir logs, drain filters, drain seals, and silt bags to more specialised items like silt curtains, silt fences, and silt socks, Ecospill has you covered with quality products designed to ensure proper stormwater management. For help finding the right stormwater management solution for your business, contact our professional team of experts today.