Is Stormwater Quality Important?

Many people don’t even think about stormwater let alone the idea that its quality is important.

Rain falls, snow melts, and water runs from our roofs, down the street, from parking lots and highways and into storm drains. As it goes, it picks up pollutants such as:

• Animal waste
• Fertilizers
• Soil
• Pesticides
• Car oil
• Garbage

All these are things we don’t want in our lakes, streams, or local waterways, which is exactly where they will end up.

Safety issues

Obviously, when our stormwater is untreated, it is consider polluted and can be unsafe:

• For human consumption
  • It can contaminate our aquifers
• Swimming
• Harvesting shellfish
• Beach activities
• Destroy natural habitats for fish and other wildlife
  • In Washington state, untreated stormwater is a large obstacle for prosperous salmon runs

Toxic blooms from algae is also a by product of untreated stormwater.

Responsible Stormwater Management

Because responsible stormwater management is so critical to the life and health of people, wildlife and our environment, LID (Low Impact Development) was developed.

This innovative approach to managing our stormwater takes its direction from Mother Nature herself, as it mimics what naturally happens in undeveloped areas.

Rather than installing miles of pipes and treating stormwater like we’re disposing of it, LID techniques manage it through the use of landscaping which not only beautifies the area, but filters, stores and allow it to evaporate.

LID uses these techniques to accomplish the goal of natural stormwater movement:

• Rain gardens
• Rain barrels
• Bioretention
• Living, growing rooftops

Considered “Green Infrastructure”, LID  can be used in residential, community or business locations, and is a very cost effective and beautifying land development technique.

A top priority is to conserve the natural environment as much as possible by using as little pavement as possible.

If you’re a builder or land developer, call Merle at Land Technologies for the latest in Low Impact Development Strategies