Storm water is the runoff that comes from parking lots and rooftops and flows into our storm drains and streams carrying silt, debris, fertilizer and other pollutants with it. Since storm water runoff is untreated, pollutants end up in our lakes and other water resources. In addition to adding pollutants to storm water, urban development increases the amount and velocity of runoff that occurs, so that downstream properties are flooded, channels and streams become eroded over time, and natural beauty and habitat are lost.

In the past, urban drainage systems were developed to address only one concern—to carry runoff from a major storm safely through the area being developed. Little attention was given to downstream impacts on flooding, water quality or maintenance.

Storm water management is a new approach that integrates all aspects of storm water runoff to protect the environment and provide the highest quality of life for current and future generations.

Storm water is managed by integrating it into all phases of development, beginning with conceptual layout and grading and continuing through provisions for long-term maintenance; and by retaining natural features and adding special controls that filter out pollutants and limit changes in runoff that cause downstream erosion and flooding.

Storm water management is also a new approach for developing capital improvement programs to address existing storm water problems in the community. Additional land may be acquired to create a more natural condition rather than constructing a larger storm drain or channel; detention ponds may be developed that hold back a portion of runoff so that flood levels are reduced downstream; and the design of the facility is accomplished in a manner that reduces pollution and erosion.

Storm water management also affects the operation and maintenance of the drainage system. The storm water system must be carefully inventoried and condition assessments must be made on a regular basis; special access ramps and other minor changes to the system must be done to allow regular maintenance of control features that are sensitive to blockage and erosion; failures must be identified promptly and repaired while they are relatively simple to fix; and vegetation must be managed in an effective manner so that pollutants are filtered out and channel banks are not eroded.

A major part of an effective storm water management program is monitoring streams and regulating discharges into streams to identify any pollution or water quality issues.

Finally, the public must be an active partner in storm water management. Public outreach and education programs are essential to gain support for city programs and assistance in pollution prevention and control.

The City of Plano Health Department, Storm Water Management Division, is responsible for managing the requirements of the Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) storm water discharge permit for its municipal separate storm sewer system or “MS4”. Read more >>