What is stormwater?

Stormwater is the flow of water that results from precipitation and which occurs immediately following rainfall or as a result of snowmelt. When a precipitation event occurs, several things happen to the water.

Some of the precipitation infiltrates into the soil surface, some is taken up by plants, and some is evaporated into the atmosphere. Stormwater runoff is the remainder of the precipitation that flows off land surfaces and impervious areas into storm sewers and drainage ways.

Show All Answers

1. What is stormwater?
2. What is stormwater runoff?
3. Why is stormwater management important?
4. What can you do to prevent stormwater runoff?