Stormwater is the water that runs off buildings, paved surfaces, and the ground during rain events. According to the EPA, stormwater is the leading cause of water pollution, and stormwater runoff is becoming more of an issue as impervious surfaces increase, more chemicals are used, and rain events intensify.
Areas with more tree cover and vegetation effectively slow down runoff, allowing rain water to seep into the soil, which naturally filters it. Areas with a significant amount of paved surfaces, buildings, and compacted land do not allow stormwater to infiltrate the ground, forcing it to become runoff. As stormwater flows over these impervious surfaces, it collect pollutants, such as motor oil, fertilizers, bacteria, sediment, road salt, and litter. Stormwater is almost never treated, so it brings these pollutants to the nearest body of water by traveling either overland or through a drain. In Rhode Island, stormwater pollution can lead to beach and shellfish area closures, algal blooms, and illness for humans and pets who swim in polluted waters.
Rhode Island Local Officials’ Stormwater Training for Planning Boards
RI NEMO has worked with the Division of Statewide Planning and the Southern New England Program (SNEP) Network to produce a stormwater training for RI planning board officials. The training includes a general background on stormwater issues in Rhode Island and walks through using the Low Impact Design (LID) Municipal Self-Assessment, a great tool for understanding areas in a municipality where low impact design can assist with stormwater management.