Stormwater runs off the land to streets, sewers, and waterways during heavy rains. When it's not managed effectively, it can cause flooding and can carry all kinds of pollutants directly into our creeks, lakes, rivers, and streams. Many businesses and parking lots have some form of stormwater management system in place, whether we realize it or not. It's worth knowing about yours, and whether it's working the way it was designed.

Stormwater detention basins have been one of the most common methods of managing stormwater runoff in residential developments over the past 30 years. However, today it is widely acknowledged that they don't work as well as they could. The good news is that a "basin retofit" can be a cost-effective way to upgrade the functionailty of basins that were installed in the past:

Similarly, most developments are surrounded by manicured lawns -- which in many cases, are just as impervious as if the grounds were paved or made of concrete. Replacing mowed areas with stretches of natural meadow is a great way of handling runoff while also creating habitat, beauty, and lowering maintenance costs:

We shouldn’t think of stormwater as a nuisance or waste product to flush down the drain; instead, we should take a pro-active approach to managing it as a valuable resource that supports our environment, economy, and quality of life.

Find more tips, information, and tools to help you get started with thinking about how to deal with stormwater. If you have any questions, contact us.

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