Why Is Stormwater Management Important for Commercial Properties?

The natural world is designed to manage stormwater, using it to enrich soil, fill bodies of water and grow flora, but the built environment can struggle to transport runoff responsibly. A developed area without stormwater management strategies faces public health hazards and flooding concerns. 

When we ask, “Why is stormwater management important?” we ask a serious question about how commercial properties can keep their communities safe and prosperous. Reliable stormwater management systems reduce flood risk, protect properties from water damage and keep drinking water safe. 

What Is Stormwater Management?

Stormwater management reduces the amount of rainwater and snowmelt runoff in an area. Runoff occurs when the land cannot absorb the water, so the water flows elsewhere. Runoff happens naturally, but is slowed by vegetation. Man-made properties are much more prone to excessive runoff, which can harm the environment with erosion or flooding. Runoff in the built environment can be referred to as urban runoff.

What is urban runoff’s main side effect? Urban runoff can overwhelm storm sewers, ditches and other depression areas. This runoff can carry bacteria, chemicals and other pollutants into bodies of water if improperly managed.

Why Is Stormwater Management Important?

If no stormwater mitigation or management systems were in place, your commercial property would experience high rates of flooding, erosion and infrastructure damage. This is why stormwater systems exist on developed properties, as required by the Clean Water Act. However, without regular maintenance stormwater systems will fail, leading to the issues above. Stormwater management systems are designed to collect runoff and direct it toward areas it can be treated and eventually returned to larger bodies of water.
Regardless of how you approach it, stormwater management is critical to keeping tenants safe and increasing your property value. AQUALIS’s stormwater repair, rehabilitation and installation experts can determine your property’s stormwater management needs and develop a long-term plan.

Environmental Impacts of Stormwater Runoff

Stormwater runoff collects pollutants from roadways and parking lots, carrying them to our natural ecosystems which can result in fish kills and other human health and safety concerns. This is why managing stormwater is so important. Water will always follow a path of least resistance—this path often ends in streams, rivers and lakes. 

Urban runoff typically collects pollutants, such as oil and chemicals, while flowing along roads and pathways. When this runoff reaches a natural body of water, it has enough foreign elements to shock an ecosystem. Polluted ecosystems usually result in the death of fish and other critical organisms. When ecosystems suffer, humans suffer.

Flooding and Infrastructure Damage

Not only does stormwater compliance preserve natural ecosystems, but it also preserves man-made communities. Stormwater management systems prevent public health emergencies and reduce damage to buildings, roads and parks. 

Communities without reliable stormwater management plans will struggle with flooding, disease and low property values. This is bad news for a community’s physical and financial well-being. You can avoid flooding, erosion and sewage leaks on your property by reviewing the basics of stormwater management.

Drinking Water Supply

Safe drinking water is a result of responsible stormwater management practices. Drinking water is sourced from aquifers and groundwater, and we replenish these sources by collecting and treating stormwater. Communities without stormwater management systems will struggle to replenish their water supply and may face high levels of water pollution.

How Stormwater Experts Ensure Compliance with Local Regulations

Property managers should consult stormwater professionals when reviewing their property’s legal compliance. These professionals are critical to properly maintaining your infrastructure, each serving an indispensable role in ensuring your property meets legal requirements. 

What Does a Stormwater Professional Do?

Stormwater professionals focus on limiting floods, erosion and pollution around your property. They accomplish this by inspecting, maintaining and repairing stormwater management systems. These systems are created and maintained with legal compliance in mind. Stormwater experts are focused on sustainable and practical solutions, often planting native flora as a means to prevent erosion and filter pollutants.

When to Hire a Stormwater Professional

Stormwater professionals focus on limiting floods, erosion and pollution around your property. They accomplish this by inspecting, maintaining and repairing stormwater management systems. These systems are created and maintained with legal compliance in mind. Stormwater experts are focused on sustainable and practical solutions, often planting native flora as a means to prevent erosion and filter pollutants. 

When to Hire a Stormwater Professional

Stormwater professionals can help you in numerous ways. They are important advisors and will ensure you meet legal compliance requirements. If your property suffers from the following issues, a stormwater expert can solve them:

• Lack of stormwater management 
• Drainage issues
• Widespread erosion
• Absence of native plants
• Zero compliance with legal regulations

Maintaining a Stormwater System

Stormwater professionals are experts in maintaining stormwater control measures (SCMs) to avoid failure. Best practice for managing stormwater on your property involves regularly maintaining the stormwater assets on your property. These assets can range from retention ponds, to bioswales or underground vaults. Each SCM requires maintenance to continue to function and treat or store stormwater properly.

Contact the Stormwater Management Experts at AQUALIS

Stormwater management systems keep your property safe and legally compliant. Compliance ensures that your tenants are safe, your property value is stable and local drinking water is unharmed. AQUALIS makes stormwater management easy for property owners, ensuring your systems are profitable and compliant.

Our environmental engineering experts design, install and repair stormwater management systems throughout the United States. We serve every state and region, building better systems and safer communities. When you work with AQUALIS, you maximize cost savings, lower expenses and ensure a cleaner environment for all. 

Our team helps you every step of the way, ensuring you are informed and confident about your stormwater management systems.

Contact AQUALIS to learn more about stormwater maintenance for your commercial property.