Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that doesn't soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. As the runoff flows over the land or impervious surfaces (such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops), it may accumulate debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants that could adversely affect water quality in the receiving waterbody.

Polluted runoff may impact lakes, rivers, wetland and other waterways in a variety of ways. For example, transported soil may cloud the waterway and interfere with the habitat of fish and plant life. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen (that are often found in fertilizer) can promote the overgrowth of algae, deplete oxygen in the waterway and be harmful to other aquatic life. Toxic chemicals from automobiles, sediment from construction activities and careless application of pesticides and herbicides threaten the health of the receiving waterway and can kill fish and other aquatic life. Bacteria from human and animal wastes can make nearby lakes and streams unsafe for wading, swimming and the propagation of edible fish.

According to an inventory conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), half of the impaired waterways studied are affected by stormwater runoff originating in urban/suburban areas and construction sites. Stormwater management, especially in urban areas, is the focus for seeking further reductions in pollution in waterways.

In New York, Phase II required that all regulated municipalities obtain a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the discharge of stormwater runoff into their surface waters. As a condition of this permit, regulated municipalities must develop and implement a comprehensive stormwater management program that includes mandated programs and practices in the following six categories:

• public education and outreach on stormwater impacts
• public participation/involvement
• illicit discharge detection and elimination
• construction site stormwater runoff control
• post-construction stormwater management in new development/redevelopment
• pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations

Informing residents and businesses about potential water quality impacts that may be caused by polluted stormwater runoff is key to our stormwater program. Below is a list of Stormwater Fact Sheets and miscellaneous publications, geared toward the general public, that outline potential impacts from polluted stormwater runoff and/or steps the community can take to reduce those pollutants.