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Stormwater

Precipitation fills our streams and lakes and soaks into the ground to replenish our aquifers. Most moderate rainfall is readily absorbed by soil, which acts as a natural filter as water moves through the cycle. But, in heavy storms, excess moisture can run off oversaturated ground. Because we’ve engineered so much of our land with impervious surfaces, that runoff can be excessive. Without the benefit of natural filtration, stormwater flows directly to waterbodies, storm drains, and sewer systems, taking with it any debris, chemicals, bacteria, eroded soil, and other pollutants it picks up along the way.

While new technologies and green infrastructure help reduce pollutant levels, many solutions are best equipped to handle frequent, low-intensity storms, rather than the sporadic, powerful storms experienced more recently. To compound the problem, population growth and rising water demand have increased dependence on local water sources, including groundwater recharge—raising more concern over potential contaminants.

Topic Overview (PDF)
41 Projects 8 Web Tools 1 Case Study 5 Webcasts
Asset Management
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)
Green Infrastructure
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)
Project #5001

Climate-Resilient Planning for Urban Stormwater and Wastewater Utilities: Workshop Proceedings

$95,000
In Progress

Project Highlights

WRF in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Water Utility Climate Alliance, NOAA's Mid-Atlantic Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, and the RAND Corporation convened an invitation-only workshop in July 2019 in New York City...

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Principal Investigator
Jordan
Fischbach
Research Manager
Dr. Harry Zhang, Ph.D., PE

Recent Updates

Project #4917
Utilizing Smart Water Networks to Manage Pressure and Flow for...

Reporting Period: July 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019. During this reporting period, the project team...

Project Update
04/21/2020
Project #5014
Practical Framework for Water Infrastructure ...

Reporting Period: December 16, 2019 - March 15, 2020. Case study framing questions and a template...

Project Update
04/17/2020
Project #5015
Solutions for Failing Drinking Water Systems in ...

During this project period, a March 2019 site visit to systems in Fresno was conducted, a...

Project Update
10/31/2019
Project #4917
Utilizing Smart Water Networks to Manage Pressure and Flow for...

During this reporting period, the project team made progress under the information gathering and project planning...

Project Update
11/12/2019
Project #4902
Leveraging Big-Data and Deep Learning for the Condition Assessment of...

Reporting Period: June – December 2019. The automated system was tested under three scenarios: (1) detection...

Project Update
12/31/2019
Project #4902
Leveraging Big-Data and Deep Learning for the Condition Assessment of...

During this project period, the automated system was extended to detect fractures (i.e., structural defects that...

Project Update
11/07/2019
Project #4727
An Asset Management Framework for Forested ...

This is the first web update, reflecting the initial 6 months of project activity. So far...

Project Update
06/09/2019
Project #4727
An Asset Management Framework for Forested ...

In this period, the researchers completed the literature review, and developed drafts of four case studies...

Project Update
09/25/2019
Project #4713
Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

Tasks proposed to be completed in the upcoming period include coordination with participating utilities to collect...

Project Update
07/31/2019
Project #4667
Long-Term Water Demand Forecasting Practices for Water Resources and...

The objectives of this project are to describe models, methods, and practices currently used to forecast...

Project Update
06/09/2019

News

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Featured Facility
Joseph A. Kozak
06/13/2019

The District has a Monitoring and Research Department that evaluates up-and-coming technologies for both wastewater treatment and biosolids management. Some of these technologies have been vetted and are being implemented...

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Resources

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Related Projects

Project #4851

Support of Data Analysis and Standardization Task for the CLASIC Project, Through the "International Stormwater BMP Database"

Completed

This document provides an overview of the database structure of Stormwater Best Management Practices, including tables and fields for storing maintenance records and a narrative description of the...

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Project #1027

Identifying Technologies and Communicating the Benefits and Risks of Disinfecting Wet Weather Flows

Completed

The primary objective of this project was to identify and communicate the benefits and risks of disinfecting wet weather flows by evaluating the effectiveness of available disinfection technologies...

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Project #4684

Incentives for Green Infrastructure Implementation on Private Property: Lessons Learned

Completed

Green infrastructure is a best management practice designed to retain, reduce, infiltrate, and/or treat stormwater runoff prior to entry into drainage systems. The benefits to both combined and...

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Project #5001

Climate-Resilient Planning for Urban Stormwater and Wastewater Utilities: Workshop Proceedings

In Progress

WRF in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Water Utility Climate Alliance, NOAA's Mid-Atlantic Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, and the RAND...

View more details
Project #5034

Assessing the Microbial Risks and Potential Impacts from Stormwater Collection and Uses to Establish Appropriate Best Management Practices

In Progress

Capture and use of stormwater offers a wide range of benefits, including enhancement of local water supplies, combined sewer overflow reduction, and stormwater runoff volume and pollutant load...

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Project #4841

Assessing the State of Knowledge and Research Needs for Stormwater Harvesting

In Progress

The field of stormwater harvesting is evolving and expanding as utilities and communities consider viable alternatives to increase water supplies, improve resiliency of water resources, and find multi-benefit...

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Related Topics

Link

Green Infrastructure

Link

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)

Link

Asset Management

Link

Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)

Link

Source & Receiving Waters

Link

Source Water Protection

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