Palmetto Bay Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater

Stormwater is basically a way of describing an accumulation of rainwater. This rainwater is either absorbed into porous surfaces like grass, forests, farm fields, and other areas of “open ground,” or the rainwater collects on non-porous (or impervious) surfaces like streets, parking lots, and rooftops.

It's these impervious areas where rainwater collects that is the challenge for stormwater planners. In order to keep these impervious areas from flooding, streets, parking lots and buildings are often designed with underground pipes and basins that drain this stormwater. Stormwater managers face three primary challenges:

  • Drain stormwater quickly in order to prevent flooding
  • Ensure stormwater is clean of contaminants picked up along the way


Stormwater Pollution


Stormwater is often carried through drainage pipes to outfalls into large bodies of water. This water is often not filtered or treated before being discharged and can contaminate our our canals, rivers, lakes, Biscayne Bay, and eventually the ocean.

There are three main types of stormwater pollution:

  •     Chemicals: detergents, automotive fluids, and fertilizers

Impact of Stormwater


Once stormwater pollution reaches our waterways, it can be harmful to plants and animals. Large doses of organic pollution can cause fish and marine life to suffocate from lack of dissolved oxygen (consumed in the process of decomposition), litter can injure unsuspecting fish, turtles, and even manatees and whales, and harsh chemicals (like automotive and cleaning fluids) can be toxic to marine life.

Coming Soon:


Public Works Department
Village of Palmetto Bay