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Urban Stormwater Pollution Fact and Fiction
Steve Tonn, Extension Educator-Omaha Metro Area Lakes

Urban stormwater management has become a priority issue in the Omaha metropolitan area because of the recent federal regulations set forth by the EPA and the Nebraska Dept. of Environmental Quality. The new regulations affect the urbanized areas of Douglas and Sarpy Counties. The regulations state that urbanized areas need to have a plan to manage stormwater runoff quantity and quality. Since stormwater is a new issue for many people, here is a list of facts and myths about stormwater:

Myth: Stormwater runoff is natural and harmless because it consists of just rainwater.
Fact: The rain is not to blame for the problems caused by stormwater runoff. Indeed, rainfall is natural and harmless, but the pollution that contaminates it during its journey over streets, parking lots, buildings, lawns, construction sites and other urban structures is not. Impervious areas do not allow the rainfall to soak into the ground. Stormwater runoff volume and rate are increased do to increased impervious area in urbanized areas.

Myth: Urban stormwater discharges cause no significant harm to our lakes, streams and rivers.
Fact: Urban stormwater is one of the most significant sources of pollution in our nation’s rivers and lakes. According to the EPA, urban stormwater is the second largest source of water quality damage in estuaries and a significant contributor to the damage to lakes and rivers.

Myth: Industrial sources pose a much greater pollution threat than urban stormwater discharges.
Fact: Stormwater runoff rivals or exceeds discharges from factories and sewage plants as a source of pollution throughout the United States. Sediment from development and new construction: oil, grease, toxic chemicals from automobiles; nutrients and pesticides from lawn management and gardening; viruses and bacteria from pet wastes and failing septic systems; road salts; and heavy metals are examples of pollutants generated in urban areas. Sediments and solids constitute the largest volume of pollutant loads to receiving waters in urban areas.

Myth: No real technical or management solutions exist to solve stormwater problems.
Fact: Because humans create urban stormwater pollution, humans can reduce or prevent it through responsible, efficient urban design, public works, pollution prevention, and homeowner practices. Workable, demonstrated techniques and management measures exist to reduce stormwater runoff.

Myth: Local governments cannot afford to pay the astronomical rates to implement even minimal measures to control pollution from stormwater runoff.
Fact: Stormwater management is not free, but neither is its price tag “astronomical”. Over 300 communities around the country have already implemented methods of funding stormwater management. Common methods of funding stormwater utilities include- a dedicated ad valorum tax; dedicated sales tax fraction; review, permit and inspection fees; impact fees; and stormwater utility fee. Each community must decide the best method or combination of methods to fund stormwater management costs.