Stormwater Management
Polluted stormwater runoff is commonly transported through municipal storm sewer systems, and often discharged, untreated, into local water bodies. In 2020, eight hundred municipalities responded to a Water Environment Federation Stormwater Institute needs assessment survey. Through this survey, municipalities indicated that their greatest stormwater infrastructure challenges are aging infrastructure and funding shortfalls. Results from the survey further indicated an annual estimated funding gap of approximately $8.5 billion.
Other needs expressed include best practices for watershed-based stormwater planning, and better strategies to win public and political support for stormwater programs.
EPA is focused on activities that will prepare communities for natural and man-made disasters, such as flooding, hurricanes, bombs, industrial explosions; however, solutions intended for these incidents often have dual or multiple uses and can help communities meet their everyday needs for stormwater management. Management of contaminated water is often an after-thought when first responding to a natural or human-caused disaster. (Treating the sick and injured, fighting fires, and preventing explosions are the immediate priority; however, decisions during the initial hours following an incident can have tremendous impacts on public and aquatic health long after the event. Thus, consideration of mitigative actions in the aftermath of an incident and preventative measures before an incident occurs are of paramount importance.
Following a contaminant release, contaminated water can be generated in a variety of ways including:
- Direct contamination of drinking water on waterways,
- Decontamination washdown activities of indoor/outdoor areas and personal protective equipment,
- Runoff from precipitation events/groundwater intrusion.