Stormwater runoff is a significant source of water pollution.  As the amount of hard surface -- streets, parking lots, roooftops and other structures --  in communities increases, there is more stormwater runoff and it runs off faster. 

Stormwater runoff can cause erosion.  When this happens stormwater carries more sediment into our rivers and streams.  Stormwater also carries other pollutants such as gasoline and other petroleum products from streets, fertilizer and other chemicals from yards and bacteria from pet waste.  Stormwater runoff may also cause the temperature of streams to rise, which can be harmful to aquatic life.

There are many techniques that can be used to manage stormwater.  In the spring of 2009, Fort Wayne City Utilities hosted a series of workshops on using green stormwater managment techniques.

Low Impact Development

• LID:  Programmatic Perspective - John Trypus, PE, Black & Veatch Corp
• LID:  Technical Perspective - Brian Nielson, PE, EMH&T
• LID:  Economic Perspective - Neil Myers, Williams Creek

Pervious Pavement

• Jennifer Roberts, PE, LEED AP, Elements Engineering
• Chuck Taylor, Advanced Pavement Technology, Ecologic Paver System Division
• Jerry Larson, Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Green Solutions

• Camp Scott Case Study - Gary Merriman, Fort Wayne City Utilities
• Rain Gardens - Dan Ernst, Earth Source
• Bioretention - Steve Barker, JF New
• Green Roofs - Heather Williams, AMEC