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What is Urban Watershed Management?

Picture of dirty water flowing out of a sewer pipe.
Urban Watershed Management is the technological approach of managing the stormwater runoff generated from rainfall in an urban environment. In undeveloped and undisturbed environment, rainfall is naturally filtered and absorbed by its environment. In an urban setting, with typical development of many impervious surfaces, stormwater transports pollutants to receiving waters.

Wet-Weather Flow (WWF) generated by precipitation, collects harmful pollutants while it travels through our city streets & other impervious and drainage systems. Many receiving water quality issues are due to the high level of contaminants generated by Wet-Weather Flow.

The group responsible for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Wet-Weather Flow research is the Urban Watershed Management Branch. We research, develop and demonstrate technologies, systems and methods to manage the risks to public health, property and the environment from Wet-Weather Flow.

EPA Press Release

EPA's New Green Parking Lot Allows Scientists to Study Permeable Surfaces that May Help the Environment

Research Topics

There are two research topics in Urban Watershed Management. Wet-Weather Flow (WWF) and Infrastructure Integrity testing. The two focuses of Wet-Weather Flow research are the control and treatment of discharge and the effects of these discharges on receiving waters.

Our Focus

Floatables captured by sump and baffle.
Our focus is the drainage and treatment systems of the urban environment, the structural integrity of such systems and the effects of discharges to receiving waters. The majority of the population lives in urban areas and this is where the greatest risks associated with water quality and hydrologic-hydraulic improvements will occur. The focus on urban areas, however, includes addressing the watershed as a whole, including urban fringe/suburban areas and, to an extent, rural areas.

Voice of America News
EPA's Science Forum Focuses on Green Technology

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gathered together scientists, investors and industry to demonstrate key innovative technologies in the environmental effort. Urban Watershed Management demonstrated cement pavers designed to reduce urban runoff and reduce the heat produced by millions of miles of traditional black pavement. Visit the News VOA.com web site Exit EPA disclaimer to view their video on what Amy Rowe said about this research project.

Office of Research & Development | National Risk Management Research Laboratory

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