What Is Storm Drainage?

Storm Drainage Components

• The drainage system contains different connected parts, through which excessive rainwater travels. Running parallel to street curbs, gutters provide a path for the water to travel to storm drains, which are the metal grates located in depressions on corners, the edges of parking lots and alongside curbs. After running down the drain, storm water flows through subterranean pipes en route to its destination, which normally is a body of water such as a nearby creek, river, lake, bay or ocean.

Storm Versus Sewer Drainage

• Rainwater that flows down a storm drainage system usually remains separate from waste water that results from tubs and showers, toilets, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. This "used" water travels through a system of pipes to reach a treatment facility where the waste-water treatment process removes suspended solids, contaminants and other pollutants. Water from rainfall, redirected by storm drains, remains untreated because it does not all collect in one location. The system may contain hundreds of separate pipe systems and empty into separate outlets.

Dumping Dangers

• Regulations usually restrict anyone from dumping anything into a storm drain because the water from storm drainage systems is left untreated. This is because the pollutants dumped into the drains end up joining a water source, such as a creek, which transports those pollutants to larger bodies of water. In addition to the dangers posed by pesticides, household trash and oil from motor vehicles, even natural debris such as grass clippings, leaves and dirt ruin the natural balance of the water into which the system dumps them.

House and Building Drains

• In addition to a storm drainage system for the community, buildings and houses benefit from storm drainage systems, which direct rainwater away from the building or house foundation, and divert standing water from the lawn and property. It can be a roof drain that travels down into the ground, an underground storm drain pipe or a stairwell drain. Homeowners sometimes dig trenches and install drain pipes themselves.