Stormwater Basics

Stormwater Basics

Gain support for stormwater projects and programs!

Ready-to-Use Educational Toolkit for Stormwater Management

Much of the burden for improving Pennsylvania's urban stormwater issues has fallen into the hands of municipal governments. Every day citizens in your municipality are starting to hear more about stormwater fees and projects. What if we told you there was an easy and cost-effective way to:

• Educate and engage local citizens?
• Maximize limited time and financial resources?
• Meet your MS4 permit requirements?
• Increase participation in planning and implementation?

Stop wondering how you can provide quality education without hiring more staff. Correct misconceptions and educate with Stormwater Basics, a series of online videos and articles from Penn State Extension for local governments and residents. Link to these ready-to-use tools as a perfect addition to your website or newsletter.

Stormwater Basics includes videos and articles to answer common questions from your local residents, such as:

• What is stormwater?
• What is the problem with stormwater and why should I care?
• What can I do about stormwater?
• Why does my community flood more than it used to?
• Is stormwater damaging my property?
• What are stormwater pollutants?
• What are combined sewer overflows?
• What is an MS4?
• How much is my stormwater project going to cost?
• How can I be a good stormwater neighbor?
• What is Sediment and Why is it a Stormwater Pollutant?
• How can I move Stormwater from here to there?
• Why Use a Rain Barrel?
• What's Allowed to go in a Storm Drain?
• How Do Trees Reduce Stormwater and Flooding?
• What are Permeable Surfaces?
• What are Riparian Buffers?
• How Can I Manage My Lawn to Reduce Nutrient Pollution?
• What is a Rain Garden?
• How to Make a Rain Garden

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.