Stormwater Facts
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What is Stormwater Runoff?
Rain or melted snow that flows over land. Stormwater runoff can pick up pollutants as it runs into storm drains and ditches before flowing into our waterbodies. Polluted runoff affects water quality, drinking water, human health, wildlife, and property values.
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Pollution Prevention
Any pollution that can be kept off the land so the next storm can’t pick it up, keeps our water cleaner and safer.
By reducing or eliminating our use of fertilizers, pesticides, road salt, and other chemicals, we can keep these pollutants out of our waterways.
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Stormwater Treatment
Some stormwater pollutants, like sediment and nutrients, can be removed through treatment infrastructure like rain gardens, bioswales, and tree boxes.
However, some pollutants, like road salt, are not able to be removed without extremely intensive and expensive desalinization facilities.
Stormwater Pollutants
Stormwater pollutants are everywhere. Since most pollutants are from nonpoint sources, their individual impacts to our local waterways vary. Often it is the cumulative impact of multiple different pollutants or a large volume of one pollutant that causes stress to local waterways.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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New pollutants are being researched every day to learn more about the impacts they may have on human health and the environment.
Examples include:
PFAS
Microplastics
Federal Stormwater Regulations
Clean Water Act
EPA MS4 Phase I stormwater permits began being issued in 90’s
EPA MS4 Phase II stormwater permits began being issued in
Combined Sewer Overflow control program initiated by the EPA NPDES in the 90’s
These regulations separated stormwater into its own utility, in addition to drinking water and wastewater.
Maine Stormwater Regulations
stormwater permits (municipal, transportation, nested) Multisector
ME Construction GP
Long Creek Watershed Management District
Chapter 500 & company
Climate Impacts
More frequent storms, increased precipitation, and/or larger volumes in shorter periods of time exacerbated inland and coastal flooding
Requires current stormwater infrastructure to be updated and capacity increased
Increases need for stormwater storage to reduce overwhelming local waterbodies
Rising sea levels can flow back up low-lying stormwater outfalls