Check out some common stormwater vocabulary terms below!
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bacteria | Tiny biological organisms not visible to the naked eye that are naturally occurring in the environment. Certain bacteria, especially those present in animal waste or sewage, can cause disease and illness if consumed. |
| Benthic Macroinvertebrate | Benthic ("bottom-dwelling") macroinvertebrates, or small aquatic organisms, are creatures that live in a body of water for a portion of their life. Many benthic macroinvertebrates are insects in their nymph or larval stage, such as dragonflies or mayflies. They’re an important part of a stream ecosystem and an indicator of water quality. Each benthic macroinvertebrate has a different tolerance for pollution, so what we find in a stream tells us a lot about stream health. |
| Catch Basin | A box structure typically located at an elevation lower than the surrounding surface area that serves as a collection point for stormwater runoff. Catch basins are typically connected to other stormwater infrastructure, like pipes, to convey the water. |
| Cistern | A large tank or reservoir that captures rainwater from rooftops or buildings for irrigation or other uses. They can store thousands of gallons of water at a time and are typically found on commercial properties or large buildings. |
| Clean Water Act | Federal law established in 1972, the primary structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the US. |
| Climate Change | The long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns. |
| Dissolved Oxygen (DO) | The amount of oxygen present in water and available for aquatic organisms. |
| Ditch | A small to moderate vegetated channel that conveys or carries stormwater. |
| Drinking Water | Potable water - water is treated in a water treatment facility that meets state and federal standards for consumption. |
| Easement | A legal right or permission, giving a person or entity limited use of another’s property. The easement area is the land subject to this right. |
| Erosion | The geological process in which rocks, soil, stream banks and channel beds are worn away or broken down and transported by natural forces such as wind or water. |
| Estuary | A partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean, creating brackish water. It is an area of transition from land to sea. |
| Fertilizer | A substance (such as manure or a chemical mixture of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous) used to make soil more fertile. When not used properly, i.e. right before a large rain event, stormwater runoff can transport it to nearby waterways, contributing to nutrient pollution. |
| Flood | Overflowing of a waterbody that causes normally dry areas to become wet. |
| Floodplain | Low-lying flat area next to a creek or river that floods during rain events. Floodplains absorb extra water from rain events and help with flood storage. |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | Systems that create, manage, analyze & visualize spatial data, but can store qualitative and quantitative data too. GIS display spatial data, or data with a unique location, on a map to help visualize connections and manage resources. |
| Green Space | Land that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation. |
| Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) | The range of measures that mimic natural processes to filter out pollutants from stormwater. GSI uses plant or soil systems, permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to store, infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater. |
| Hydrology | The science of water on Earth. Hydrologists study the properties, distribution, and circulation of surface water and precipitation. |
| Impervious surface | Any surface or groundcover that does not absorb water or allow water to infiltrate into the ground. Examples include roads and sidewalks or heavily compacted dirt and gravel. |
| Nitrogen | A naturally occurring element that is essential for plant and animal growth. Nitrogen has many forms, including the air we breathe. Although naturally occurring, waterways can become polluted by too much nitrogen from fertilizers and sewer or septic overflows. |
| Non-Potable Water | Water is captured in a rain barrel or cistern and used for non-drinking purposes, such as washing a car or irrigation. |
| Pervious surface | Any surface or groundcover that allows water to be absorbed or infiltrate into the ground. |
| Pesticides | A substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. If not used properly, stormwater runoff can carry pesticides into nearby waterways, harming plants and wildlife. Pesticides should not be applied before large rain events. |
| pH | A scale used to indicate the acidity or basicity of a solution. With pH 1 being more acidic, pH 7 being neutral, and pH 14 being strongly basic. |
| Phosphorus | Chemical element that is naturally occurring and needed for plants to grow. Elevated phosphorus in streams due to excessive fertilizer or manure can cause pollution and decline in stream health. |
| Pollutant | A substance introduced to the environment that has negative effects and often harms the environment. |
| Potable Water | Drinking water. Water that is safe to drink or consume. |
| Precipitation | Forms of water that fall from the sky (rain, snow, sleet or hail). |
| Rain Barrel | A water storage container used to collect and temporarily hold rainwater runoff. Typically found on residential properties or small buildings with a capacity of ~50 gallons. Rain barrels usually include a spigot for gravity-fed use of collected rainwater for watering plants. |
| Rain Garden or Bioretention Area | A garden that uses plants and layers of soil, sand, stones, and mulch to retain rainwater and absorb pollution which reduces the amount of polluted runoff that reaches storm drains and our waterways. |
| Right-of-Way (R-O-W) | A city-owned space for current or future facilities such as highways, streets, or trails and above and below ground utilities (water, sanitary sewer, and private utilities). Generally, extends 10 to 20 feet beyond the curb into the yard area. Privately installed trees, fences, retaining walls, or sprinkler systems should not be built in the R-O-W without obtaining permission. |
| River Basin | The land area drained by a river and its tributaries. |
| Sediment | Loose particles of sand, silt and clay that settle on the bottom of rivers, lakes, estuaries and oceans or can be suspended in the water column. When rocks and streambanks erode at high rates, or are improperly maintained, it can cause excess sediment to pollute waterways. |
| Storm Drain | A drain built to carry away excess water in times of heavy rain. |
| Stormwater | Water that originates during precipitation events and during snow/ice melts. Stormwater can infiltrate into the soil, evaporate into the air, or runoff into nearby surface waters. |
| Stormwater Runoff | Excess rainfall that does not infiltrate and instead flows over the surface of the land. |
| Stream Buffer | Natural boundaries, typically comprised of vegetation, between local waterways and existing development. |
| Stormwater Swale | A long, gently sloping, landscaped depression that collects, conveys, and filters stormwater. |
| Topography | The study of the land and water features of an area. |
| Tree Canopy | The layer of tree leaves, branches, and stems that provide tree coverage of the ground when viewed from above. |
| Wastewater | Water carrying wastes from homes, businesses and industries that is a mixture of water and dissolved or suspended solids. Wastewater should be conveyed to a wastewater treatment plant or septic system. |
| Water Cycle | The process in which water travels from Earth’s surface through the atmosphere and back to Earth’s surface. Water evaporates and rises through the air. The water condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds. When conditions are right, the water returns to the earth as precipitation and the cycle begins again. Since all water on earth is connected through the Water Cycle, it is important to consider the whole water cycle when managing water resources, this is called the One Water Approach. |
| Watershed | An area of land where water drains to a singular low-lying geographic feature, such as a river, lake, or the ocean. Watersheds come in different sizes, but wherever you are- you're in a watershed! |
| Waterway | Any channel or body of water (creek, stream, river, lake, etc.) |
| Wetland | Saturated or nearly saturated soils most of the year that form an interface between land-based and aquatic environments. |
| Perennial Stream | Stream that has water flow throughout the year, originating from and replenished by groundwater |
| Intermittent Stream | Stream with flow for only a portion of the year. |
| Ephemeral Stream | Stream primarily flowing during rain events with stormwater runoff source. |