Stormwater Management

Stormwater Structures

What is Stormwater Management?

Stormwater Management is the process of controlling the runoff from precipitation (i.e, rain or snow) that flows off of impervious surfaces like parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, and rooftops. Unchecked stormwater flows from these hard surfaces to streets and gutters, which carry the untreated runoff to nearby receiving waters.

Stormwater runoff does not go to a treatment plant before discharging into the area’s receiving waters, and it can carry pollutants like motor oil, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, grass clippings, leaves, litter, trash, debris, and sediment into nearby waterways. All of these items negatively impact the water quality of our rivers, streams, and ponds.

Techniques to manage stormwater runoff include the use of vegetation and mulch to protect bare soil areas from erosion along with the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are designed to slow velocity, reduce volume, and limit the rate of runoff in an effort to reduce the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff before it reaches the receiving waters.

  1. Cindy Linkenhoker

    Stormwater Program Manager

  2. Stormwater Management

    Physical Address
    5204 Bernard Drive
    Second Floor
    Roanoke, VA 24018

    Fax: 540-772-2108

  1. Report Illicit Discharge
  2. Report Litter

Report Illicit Discharges

If you see someone placing waste of any kind into the storm drainage system, which is comprised of storm drainage inlets, roadside ditches, curb and gutter, and underground drainage pipes, please report the activity to the County by clicking on the link below:  Report Illicit Stormwater Discharges

If possible, please take pictures of the illicit discharge activity when it is occurring and email the pictures to the County's Stormwater Program Manager.

County staff will investigate the incident and attempt to resolve the issue.

Harmful Effects of Illicit Discharges and Pollution

To learn more about the harmful effects of illicit discharges on the area's receiving waters, please see the County's various public education videos, entitled Illicit Discharge, Detection and Elimination - A Grate Concern. Learn more about Illicit Stormwater Discharges with our video series.