Stormwater is runoff from a rainstorm or melting snow. City landscapes - unlike forests, wetlands, and grasslands that trap water and allow it to filter slowly into the ground - contain great areas of impermeable asphalt and concrete surfaces that prevent water from seeping into the ground. Stormwater also picks up many pollutants as it travels across the hard surfaces. These pollutants include: motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, trash, and sediment that can harm the water quality of our local creeks, rivers, and lakes. As stormwater runoff travels over urban landscapes, the flow increases and water quality decreases.
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