Why Is Stormwater Management Important and What Does It Entail?

Stormwater management is a process of reducing the amount of precipitation or melted snow that runs off into streets, lawns, and other areas while also improving the quality of the water.

Stormwater is filtered and eventually fills aquifers or runs into streams and rivers when it is absorbed into the soil. On the other hand, when a lot of rain falls, the saturated earth produces an overabundance of moisture that seeps through the surface and into road ditches and storm sewers. This water frequently enters streams, rivers, lakes, or wetlands carrying dirt, chemicals, bacteria, and other contaminants.

So how does managing stormwater contribute?

Impermeable surfaces, like roofs and pavement, keep rainwater from seeping into the earth naturally in urban and urbanized regions. Rather, water rushes into drainage ditches, storm drains, and sanitary sewage systems, where it can overflow and destroy infrastructure in addition to causing erosion, floods, and turbidity (or muddiness). However, to preserve or restore natural hydrologies, stormwater design and “green infrastructure” collect and repurpose runoff.

Stormwater management’s main goals are to remove pollutants and contain stormwater. Stormwater management involves a variety of infrastructure, including pervious surfaces that allow precipitation and snowmelt to seep into the soil, gray infrastructure like culverts, gutters, storm sewers, and conventional piped drainage, and blue and green infrastructure that replicates, restores, or protects the natural water cycle.

How may you assist?

An important first step is to get knowledgeable about where runoff from snowmelt and rains flows through your property when it is not absorbed by the earth. The next stage is to put best management techniques into effect to reduce runoff and ensure that it is clean when it exits your property.

Stormwater compliance has long been an area of expertise for the Bravo Consult team. With our experience creating stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs), sharing best management practices (BMPs), helping with design, municipal separate storm and sewer systems (MS4), conducting inspections, and assisting clients with Level 1 & 2 ERAs compliance, Bravo Consult can assist anyone looking to improve stormwater management on their property.

As part of these services, our personnel has helped industrial facilities and MS4 programs with compliance difficulties. In addition to program management, Bravo Consult creates Local Implementation Plans (LIPs) that involve the inventory, prioritizing, and inspection of commercial, municipal, and industrial buildings.

In order to fully comply with all applicable federal, state, and local stormwater rules, Bravo Consult’s Stormwater/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) group has created and executed plans for municipalities, businesses, industries, and projects.

Staff and consultants/contractors must work together well and have a thorough grasp of the NPDES permit requirements in order for a stormwater program to be implemented and managed successfully. Bravo Consult is prepared to assist any city or industrial facility with their stormwater compliance requirements since it has created several LIPs and assisted other cities and industrial facilities with the creation and execution of their stormwater/NPDES plans.

Advantages Of Having A Stormwater Management Plan.

Putting in place a stormwater management strategy has several advantages. Among the most significant advantages are:

Preventing Pollution of Water

Stormwater management plans regulate the outflow of stormwater runoff, hence preventing contamination of the water supply.

Safeguarding Aquatic Environments

Stormwater management strategies also contribute to the preservation of aquatic environments by reducing water contamination.

Enhancement of Water Quality

By lowering the quantity of pollutants that enter our rivers, stormwater management strategies can aid in improving the quality of our water.

Diminished Inundation

Stormwater management plans, which regulate the storage and treatment of stormwater runoff, can also aid in lowering the danger of floods.