A Division of Public
Do you know where the water goes when it
rains? How about the water you use when you wash your car or
water the lawn? Some of this water soaks into the ground but the
rest of it runs off the land surface. It is this runoff water
that we call Stormwater.
Stormwater, by itself, is not harmful to our environment. But as
it travels across lawns, rooftops, roadways, and parking lots it
picks up a variety of pollutants such as fertilizers, motor
oils, sediments, trash and yard debris. All this "stuff" ends up
in the nearest drainage inlet and subsequently discharges,
UNTREATED, into nearby receiving waterways, such as the
Polluted stormwater can harm fish, wildlife and plants, and can
even contaminate drinking water. In fact, the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that at least 50% of
our nation's water pollution is caused by polluted stormwater
And if that's not bad enough, the "BIG stuff" in stormwater -
like trash, leaves and grass clippings, contributes to street
flooding by blocking the drainage inlets and clogging the
underground storm drainage pipes.
So. . .what do we DO About Stormwater?
In compliance with State and Federal Regulations, the City of
Portsmouth operates a Stormwater Management Program to help
improve the quality of stormwater runoff and to
help reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff.
Program activities include construction of water control
structures, ditch and pipe maintenance, water quality monitoring
and testing, lake and pond management, enforcement of program
standards and public education.
Portsmouth's Stormwater System is
Total Street Length - 335 miles
Total Drainage Pipe Length - 159
Length of Open ditches - 109
Length of Roadside Ditches - 87 miles
Drainage Structures - 9000
Outfalls that discharge to area waterways and ultimately
the Chesapeake Bay - 488
The mission of the City of Portsmouth’s
stormwater management program is to safely and efficiently
control runoff, protect public health and safety, protect
property, minimize the discharge of pollutants to receiving
waters, guide development, and protect and enhance water quality
in streams and stormwater lakes in the community. The City’s
program will provide for construction, operation, maintenance,
and management of stormwater controls and will complement and
support other City programs. The program shall include
regulatory compliance, institutional functionality, equitable
and adequate financial stability, and public education and
Portsmouth's stormwater drains to
and private lakes like this one.