What is stormwater?

Stormwater is rain and snowmelt that flows over land or hard surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. This water is generally referred to as storm water runoff.

How does stormwater runoff affect water quality?

As stormwater travels across land and hard surfaces, it flows into ditches, streams or storm sewers and can pick up pollutants, such as oils, litter, sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and pathogens. Polluted stormwater runoff entering city streams and creeks can have harmful effects on water quality making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. Storm water flows eventually reach Accotink Creek and then out to the Chesapeake Bay.

How you can help reduce stormwater pollution?

The City is dedicated to protecting and restoring our streams. Storm water runoff is produced every time rain or snow is not absorbed directly into the soil. When land is paved the storm water can no longer infiltrate into the ground where it can be naturally filtered by the earth’s soil. Based on area studies, we know that a significant amount of water pollution going into the Chesapeake Bay is a result of storm water discharges.

There are several ways citizens can help protect our streams from home. To see how you can help, please go to Protecting our Water Sources for detailed information on: 

• Reporting Illicit Discharges
• What Citizens Can Do
• What Students Can Do

"Only Rain Down the Drain" Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners www.onlyrain.org

Only rain down the storm drain" is the motto of the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners with a goal of “cleaner streams for our residents and a healthier Chesapeake Bay for all.” The Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners (NVCWP) represent 11 Northern Virginia local governments, two independent water and sanitary sewer authorities, and local businesses that care about the quality of our waterways and the region’s quality of life. Polluted stormwater runoff is the number one cause of poor quality of river and stream water in Northern Virginia that also serves as the sources of our drinking water. Their goal is to work together to keep local residents healthy and safe by reducing the amount of pollution that reaches local creeks and rivers. Please visit the website, www.onlyrain.org for more information.

Additional Resources:
Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov
Department of Environmental Quality: www.deg.virginia.gov
Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse: http://vwrrc.vt.edu/swc/RegulatoryPrograms.html
Chesapeake Bay Foundation: www.cbf.org
Center for Watershed Protection: www.cwp.org
Storm Water Managers Resource Center: www.stormwatercenter.net