Stormwater

Official Position Statement Approved by the WEF

Date of Approval: June 26, 2025

Expiration Date: June 26, 2030

Stormwater runoff from point sources and non-point sources is a growing source of water pollution in many watersheds across the country, contributing nutrients, microorganisms, and sediment.  This pollution is adversely impacting our drinking water supplies, recreational activities and fish, shellfish and wildlife. Stormwater management requires more advanced evaluations to create resilient, affordable, and multiple benefit solutions. Applying decades old evaluation tools is no longer effective when considering complex urban drainage systems that include surface, pipe, channel flow, detention, retention, and water quality treatment. These dynamic systems are being overwhelmed by changing rainfall patterns resulting in poor water quality, flash flooding, and loss of life and property. Stormwater management practices have historically been siloed and have failed to recognize the interconnection between water quantity and quality. Stormwater management practices have also failed to effectively and affordably utilize stormwater to help address current and future local and atmospheric conditions. 

Furthermore, the existing stormwater infrastructure is aging and severely underfunded for maintenance and retrofitting in an increased regulatory environment. Stormwater management is currently addressed through protection and water quality improvement strategies developed by utilities, local government, state governments, and federal agencies. However, the nation lacks a comprehensive plan of action at the federal level to cohesively, economically and effectively implement more resilient stormwater systems that can provide multiple benefits to water quality, water supply, flood mitigation, and other community enhancements. Research, data, and funding are needed to improve stormwater management which will require extensive stormwater system evaluations, new technologies, improved asset management systems, and life cycle analysis tools.

READ WEF'S OFFICIAL POSITION STATEMENT ON ON STORMWATER RUNOFF IN THE UNITED STATES BUILT ENVIRONMENT