What is stormwater containment?
Stormwater runoff is rain or snowmelt that accumulates and flows over the landscape. This water is reabsorbed into the earth and enters our rivers, oceans, and groundwater. Because of human changes to the environment like roads and sidewalks, this runoff cannot always be reabsorbed. This has led to some dangerous consequences.
Stormwater runoff becomes contaminated when it’s not properly managed. After it’s contaminated, it can enter our waterways. It can also cause issues like flooding, waterway sedimentation, habitat loss, sewer overflow, stream-flow changes, and erosion.
In order to manage these issues, the EPA created the Clean Water Act in 1987, which requires stormwater management by state and federal regulations. The purpose of stormwater management is to make sure that different facilities are doing their part to protect the environment and prevent nonpoint source pollution.
The EPA recommends certain stormwater containment and management solutions that are compliant and protect the environment.