Storm Water Management

Pollutants such as motor oil, road salt, paint, solvents and industrial chemicals—as well as soil and debris—are frequently discharged into waterways via storm water systems.  Municipalities and industrial and residential developers are encouraged to apply storm water BMPs to control rain and snowmelt, such as building on-site containment basins for runoff, utilizing permeable paving materials or design, and preserving natural areas that can hold excess runoff water.  The City of Meadville has applied vegetated swales, infiltration trenches and three rain gardens in a flood- prone area of the city to serve as demonstration sites for storm water BMPs. You can read about the Meadville demonstration projects here.