What is stormwater management?
Stormwater pollution is one of New Jersey’s greatest threats to clean and plentiful water. That’s
why it’s important for all of us to be active in practicing stormwater management. Stormwater
pollution consists of pollution from our streets, parking lots and lawns that is washed by rain into
storm drains. Stormwater management is the effort to reduce the amount of rainwater pollution
and improve water quality. When water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems and
drainage ditches it can cause flooding, erosion, storm and sanitary system overflow and
infrastructure damage. In urban and developed areas impervious surfaces such as pavement and
roofs prevent rain from naturally soaking into the ground. This can cause a variety of problems
in urban areas. Urbanization causes change in how surface and ground water flow naturally
creating larger watersheds that make it difficult to control the quality and quantity of water
runoff.
Why is stormwater management important?
Municipalities are required to educate residents and businesses on the impact of their day-to-day
activates on stormwater quality. For this reason, it is important for residents to know how they
can reduce their runoff and pollution. Some of the ways residents can reduce their pollution of
rainwater is to limit their use of fertilizers and pesticides, properly dispose of hazardous
products, dispose of yard waste properly, clean up after their pets and never litter. These are key
efforts to reduce stormwater pollution.
Tips
Limit use of fertilizers and pesticides
-Maintain a small lawn and plant vegetation that requires little or no fertilizer
- If you must use fertilizer do not apply fertilizers if heavy rain is predicted
- Use alternatives for pesticides (Alternatives)
Properly use and dispose of hazardous products
Camden County offers services for proper hazardous waste disposal
http://www.camdencounty.com/service/environmental-affairs/recycling/
- These include some household or commercial cleaning products, lawn and garden care
products, motor oil, antifreeze, and paints
- Do not pour any hazardous products down a storm drain because storm drains are usually
connected to local waterbodies and the water is not treated
- Use natural or less toxic alternatives when possible
- Recycle used motor oil
Clean up after your pet
- Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste
- Use newspaper, bags or pooper-scoopers to pick up wastes
- Dispose of the wrapped pet waste in the trash or unwrapped in a toilet
- Never discard of pet waste in a storm drain
- Do not feed wildlife, such as ducks and geese, in public areas
Don’t litter
- Place litter in trash receptacles
- Recycle!
- Participate in community cleanups
Dispose of yard waste properly
- Keep leaves and grass out of storm drains so they remain clear
- Use leaves and grass clippings as a resource for compost
- Use mulching mower that recycles grass clippings into the lawn
Links:
See Stormwater Pollution Prevention plans in our document section here.
Solutions to stormwater pollution
Pet waste pollutes our waters
Link to code
Stormwater Utility Map 1
Stormwater Utility Map 2
What is Nonpoint Source Pollution
What's a watershed
For more information on using the Total Maximum Daily Load Tool to assess your community’s surface water please visit https://www.nj.gov/dep/dwq/msrp-tmdl-rh.htm
Flood Plain Map:
Floods occur naturally and can happen almost anywhere. They may not even be near a body of water, although river and coastal flooding are two of the most common types. Flood maps are one tool that communities use to know which areas have the highest risk of flooding.
Click here to access the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.