(1) Stormwater FAQ

What is stormwater?
Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow that doesn't soak into the ground but runs off into waterways. It flows from rooftops, over paved areas and bare soil, and through sloped lawns while picking up a variety of materials on its way.

What's the Problem?
As it flows, stormwater runoff transports pollutants to surface waters, like the Hudson River and the Saw Mill River, making them unsafe for wading, swimming, boating, and fishing.  Pollution conveyed by stormwater degrades the quality of drinking water and damages fisheries and plant and animal habitats.

What can be done?
Significant improvements have been achieved in controlling pollutants that are discharged from sewage and wastewater treatment plants.  But stormwater runoff is not normally treated by wastewater treatment plants. Stormwater management is becoming a necessary step in seeking further reductions in pollution in our waterways.