Stormwater Runoff Challenges and Solutions for American Communities

Press Room

When water from rain and melting snow runs off roofs and roads into our rivers, it picks up toxic chemicals, dirt, trash and disease-carrying organisms. Studies show that this stormwater pollution rivals sewage plants and large factories as a source of damaging pollutants in our drinking water and at our beaches.

Strategies for capturing, controlling and reusing rainwater

Rainwater capture and control practices, also called green infrastructure, help address stormwater problems by restoring parts of the natural water cycle that were paved over by development. Strategies most commonly being used in urban areas include green roofs, rain barrels and cisterns, rain gardens, pocket wetlands, and permeable pavements. Not only do these smarter water practices help address stormwater runoff, but they also beautify neighborhoods, cleanse the air, reduce heat-related illnesses, save on energy costs, boost economies, and support American jobs.

How cities are implementing solutions

Strategies for reducing urban stormflow pollution are flexible - so site-specific solutions can be tailored to newly developed land or retrofitted into existing areas. These solutions can be used on individual sites, at the neighborhood level, or can be incorporated into a more widespread municipal stormwater management program. In our Rooftops to Rivers report, we explore how different cities are taking steps to address their stormwater issues. Click on the different cities below to learn about their efforts:

Aurora

Aurora

Achieving 4 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Aurora has successfully integrated green infrastructure (GI) into the planning done by all its city departments, has dedicated GI funding sources, and adheres to the county-wide retention ordinance. The city could benefit more by establishing private-party incentives and requiring the use of GI to reduce some portion of the existing impervious surfaces.
Chicago

Chicago

Achieving 3 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Chicago has embedded green infrastructure (GI) into various city policies and initiatives and become a national leader on green roofs and permeable pavement. The city lacks a comprehensive plan, a requirement to reduce impervious surfaces and dedicated funding.
Kansas City

Kansas City

Achieving 3 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Kansas City kicked off its green infrastructure (GI) strategy with a "10,000 Rain Gardens" initiative in 2005 and is now pursuing its first wide-scale pilot project that will use GI as the sole control method for combined sewage overflows in a 100-acre residential area.
Milwaukee

Milwaukee

Achieving 5 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Milwaukee is a leader in its integration of green infrastructure (GI) into its combined sewer overflow reduction strategy, including specific reduction targets and a triple-bottom-line analysis. Dedicated capital funds support green roof grants, rain barrels, and rain gardens.
Nashville

Nashville

Achieving 3 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Nashville identified potential green infrastructure (GI) projects and suggested incentives for private properties to participate in GI, such as stormwater fee discounts, rebates, installation financing, and awards and recognition programs.
New York

New York

Achieving 5 of 6 Emerald City criteria, New York continues to expand one of the most extensive programs of public investment in green infrastructure in the United States, with an initial focus on greening municipal capital projects and implementing several neighborhood scale demonstration projects.

Click to learn more about GI projects in New York. >>
Philadelphia

Philadelphia

The only city achieving 6 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Philadelphia is the first city in the nation formally committed to using green infrastructure as the primary means to satisfy its combined sewer overflow obligations. The city will fund its share of the costs of the program with a stormwater fee based on impervious area.
Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Achieving 1 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Pittsburgh's most tangible step toward full-scale green infrastructure implementation is passage of an ordinance that establishes stormwater volume reductions standards, including a requirement that developments larger than 10,000 square feet retain the first inch of rainfall on-site.
Portland

Portland

Achieving 5 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Portland has made a strong community commitment to green infrastructure through a combination of required and voluntary measures, including a runoff retention standard and replacement program for city-owned impervious surfaces.
Rouge River Watershed

Rouge River Watershed

Achieving 1 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Rouge River Watershed (which includes the city of Detroit) formed an alliance of local jurisdictions that prepared watershed-wide management plans that identify green infrastructure as one of several strategies to restore the watershed.
Seattle

Seattle

Achieving 3 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Seattle has a strong program that includes strategies to help private parties implement green infrastructure (GI). Initiatives are now accompanied by a regulatory GI program called Green Factor, which requires that development projects achieve minimum scores based on landscaping features that promote GI.
Syracuse

Syracuse

Achieving 5 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Syracuse was the first community in the United States subject to a legal requirement to reduce sewage overflows with green infrastructure (GI). GI investments totalling nearly $80 million will account for nearly two-thirds of future combined sewage overflow reductions, funded by a combination of sewer fees and low-interest loans and grants from the state.
Toronto

Toronto

Achieving 4 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Toronto made downspout disconnection mandatory, adopted construction standards to require buildings to include green roofs, established rainwater capture demonstration projects, and provided funding for tree plantings to double the city's existing tree canopy.
Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Achieving 5 of 6 Emerald City criteria, Washington, D.C. has issued a federal stormwater permit that contains a 1.2-inch retention standard for new development and redevelopment -- to be achieved through evaportranspiration, infiltration, and harvesting -- and numeric retrofit targets for street trees and green roofs.

Click to learn more about how Washington is handling stormwater runoff. >>

Case Studies

Making Simple Changes in Your Home to Capture Rainwater

There are several simple things you can do at home to save water -- and money. See how easy it is:

Install a rain barrel
Build a rain garden: watch a video or read this how-to manual
Redirect your downspouts
Learn more about the value of trees