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1. What is storm water?

Storm water is a term used to describe water that originates during precipitation events. Storm water that does not soak into the ground becomes surface runoff which flows into the waterways either directly or through storm water pipes and outlets. All storm water ends up untreated in our local waterways!

2. Why is storm water runoff important?

There are two main areas of concern for storm water runoff. The first is related to the volume and timing of the water runoff, flood control and water supply. The other issue relates to the potential contaminates that the storm water carries to our natural waterways, water pollution and habitat destruction.

As one of the first cities in the country to submit its application for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, Norfolk implemented its Environmental Storm Water Management Program and storm water utility in July 1991. In the absence of federal and state funding, revenue for the Environmental Storm Water Management Program is derived primarily from storm water fees. The Division of Environmental Storm Water Management oversees the program.