Stormwater is rain that falls on a hard surface like a roof,
driveway, or road that can’t soak up water so it flows across these
surfaces to the nearest body of water instead, picking up chemicals and
pollutants along the way.
When rain falls on a surface it can soak
into, the water filters through the earth and is cleaned naturally
through soil and plant roots. As the water soaks into the ground, it
waters trees and plants. Leftover water continues draining down into
groundwater (water stored underground), and slowly releases the cleaned
water back into local streams, rivers, and lakes.
When rain falls
on a hard surface it can’t soak into, such as your driveway at home, it
flows across the ground where it collects harmful materials, such as
oils, heavy metals, and litter. If too much water collects in a place
where it would usually soak in, such as a lawn, it pools up and
overflows into the road, taking with it fertilizers, pesticides, and pet
waste. This runoff flows into storm drains, which takes the water in
pipes to the nearest local stream, such as Miller Creek, or lake, such
as Arbor Lake or Lake Burien, without being filtered or cleaned.
Eventually, this polluted water drains to Puget Sound.
Graphic provided courtesy of City of Alexandria, VA.
Polluted stormwater is the number one toxic threat to Puget Sound and local bodies of water, threatening our wildlife, fisheries, and beloved recreational areas.
To prevent polluted stormwater in Burien, the City works with residents, nonprofits, and other government agencies to
reduce stormwater runoff and prevent harmful chemicals, toxins, and
wastes from coming into contact with our local bodies of water.
Preventing polluted stormwater runoff is a critical issue in our
community and requires participation from government, businesses,
schools, community groups, and residents alike.