Stormwater Management Research
For many cities, stormwater Stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage; rainfall that does not infiltrate the ground or evaporate because of impervious land surfaces but instead flows onto adjacent land or watercourses or is routed into drain/sewer systems. management remains a significant challenge. Treatment of stormwater related pollutants may be required to minimize the impact of contaminants on the watershed. In some cases, treatment is not possible when surges in stormwater overwhelm systems that convey combined sewage and stormwater. This can result in direct discharge of untreated human, commercial, and industrial wastewater into surface waters.
EPA's research is helping communities improve water quality, manage water quantity, and reduce flood frequency in the face of changing precipitation, especially in underserved communities. Integrated stormwater management research focuses on reducing combined sewer overflows, managing stormwater quality and quantity, and using stormwater for augmenting water resources to help communities manage stormwater.
Research Topics
EPA's researchers are studying green and gray infrastructure to help support local, state, and national stormwater management objectives to reduce runoff through infiltration and retention. EPA supports the increased adoption of both constructed and natural green infrastructure in communities through the improvement of models and tools, field and laboratory research, and the evaluation of data from increasing application of green infrastructure practices.
Models and Tools
- Green Infrastructure Modeling Toolkit
- EPA Science Models and Research Tools (SMaRT) Search
- Water Modeling Tools for Decision Support
Related Research and Resources
Research
Basics, Planning, and Partnerships
- EPA's Green Infrastructure Information
- More on Green Infrastructure: Soak Up the Rain
- EPA scientists partner with Florida’s Escambia County to study tire-derived pollutants in stormwater
Sustainable Communities
- Healthy Benefits of Green Infrastructure in Communities (pdf)
- Community Solutions for Voluntary Long-Term Stormwater Planning
- Lick Run: Green Infrastructure in Cincinnati and Beyond
- Using Economic Incentives to Manage Stormwater Runoff in the Shepherd Creek Watershed, Part I
- Urban Street Trees and Green Infrastructure
- Community Solutions for Voluntary Long-Term Stormwater Planning