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Recyclers News Press
Reduce Runoff
Slow It down
—
Spread It Out
–
Soak It In
EPA’s National Stormwater Calculator is a desktop
application that estimates the annual amount of
rainwater and frequency of runoff from a specific
site anywhere in the United States. Estimates are
based on local soil conditions, land cover, and his-
toric rainfall records. The Calculator accesses sev-
eral national databases that provide soil, topogra-
phy, rainfall, and evaporation information for the
chosen site. Access the tool at
The purpose of the calculator is to help users select
the types of low impact development (LID) controls
they would like to use. The LID controls are simple
tools that can be used to reduce storm water runoff
by slowing it down, spreading it out and letting it
soak in. Better retention of storm water runoff will
reduce pollutants in the ground and surface water
from which we draw our drinking water.
The storm water calculator (SWC), like any model,
estimates an outcome based on available informa-
tion such as soil type, landscape and land-use infor-
mation, and historical weather. These estimates can
be affected by limitations on site-specific information
and uncertainties about future climate. Climate pro-
jections indicate that heavy precipitation events are
very likely to become more frequent as the climate
changes. Green Infrastructure such as low impact
development can increase the resiliency of storm
water management
approaches to a
changing climate and
will allow users to con-
sider how runoff may
vary based both on
historical weather and
potential future cli-
mate.
Green infrastructure promotes the natural move-
ment of water, instead of allowing it to wash into
streets and down storm drains. Green infrastructure
also has the added benefit of beautifying properties
and increasing values.
Low Impact Development Controls
Low Impact Development (LID) has emerged as a
highly effective and attractive approach to control-
ling storm water pollution. Simple LID techniques
may be used in automotive salvage facilities.
Disconnection
is a simple and straightforward ap-
proach by which a facility will disconnect the storm
drains to the municipal system thereby retaining all
runoff on property for infiltration.
Rain harvesting
basically means a good old fash-
ion
rain barrel
at the end of the downspout to cap-
ture rain for later use in watering the landscaping
with nitrogen-rich rain water. It saves money on wa-
ter usage, retains storm water runoff and provides
nutrient-laden moisture to plants during dry spells.
Rain Barrel photo courtesy of
Reference:
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models/swc/ &
