Feature Article

Cleaning Up Stormwater: Understanding Pollutant Removal from Runoff

This residential streetscape in San Francisco is virtually 100% impervious, resulting in very high runoff during storms.

Photo: Alex Wilson
While the swirling, iridescent patterns of oil floating on water can be beautiful, their environmental impacts can be severe. An acre (0.4 ha) of parking lot typically collects as much as 4 gallons (15 l) of oil and other hydrocarbons annually—and much of that gets washed into the stormwater system, usually making its way into our streams, rivers, and lakes. In many developed areas, stormwater runoff is the single largest source of water pollution.

Following up on our past feature on stormwater management (see

EBN

Vol. 3, No. 5), this article takes a look at the contaminants that show up in stormwater and strategies for removing them. This topic has relevance to both commercial and residential buildings—any project involving impervious surfaces that contribute to runoff.

This article is BuildingGreen Premium content

Two ways to read the full article and get CEUs:

Sign up for BuildingGreen Premium to access all our premium content

Join for just $.../month »

Purchase this article to get online access and a printable PDF.

Buy it now for $... »

Already a premium member? Log in now

To read the full article, subscribe now to BuildingGreen Premium

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.

( does not provide premium access to BuildingGreen)

Go premium for just $... » Go premium for just $... » Firm or campus members – click here »
You have free access to this article through false – click to activate »

Your 15-day free trial expired on

Already a premium member? Log in now

Published February 1, 2002

(2002, February 1). Cleaning Up Stormwater: Understanding Pollutant Removal from Runoff. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/feature/cleaning-stormwater-understanding-pollutant-removal-runoff

Volume 11, Issue 2

Also on BuildingGreen

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience

By clicking the Accept button, you agree to us doing so.