Preventing Runoff and Stormwater Pollution

The concept of low impact development is to develop land with minimal impact to the local environment, with a focus on stormwater. Preventing pollutants from being placed, deposited, or mobilized in the urban landscape will result in higher runoff quality and reduced need for treatment. Street trees can be a valuable part of the green stormwater infrastructure. Trees can provide multiple benefits for stormwater management, similar to other, more formalized stormwater control measures. A disconnected impervious surface is a built-upon area (usually a roof or a paved surface) that discharges runoff to a vegetated area that is sized and graded to reduce runoff and pollutants. Compromised water quality in urban runoff results from the wash-off of pollutants built into or deposited onto the drainage areas. Education is and will continue to be a critical component of stormwater management.