Alexandria is participating in the inaugural “Write as Rain” campaign, a regional effort with the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners designed to get residents thinking about how their actions on the street can impact local streams and rivers. When it rains, spot our hidden messages around the City to inspire clean water thinking! 

The City has adopted a Stormwater Utility Fee to provide funding for the stormwater management program to reduce the impact of stormwater pollution and flooding, and ensure that Alexandria is in compliance with state and federal stormwater regulations.

Our everyday activities can impact stormwater quality in positive or negative ways.  It’s up to all of us to do our parts. Learn what you can do to get involved and help out around your home, yard, or business to help improve water quality in our local streams, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.  

Stormwater carries pollutants from hard surfaces to our local waterways, and can contribute to poor water quality.  Learn more about stormwater quality, what stormwater BMPs are, and what the City is doing to protect our local streams, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.  

Flooding is the number 1 natural disaster in our country. Learn more about what the City is doing to help improve flooding and drainage issues, how you can be flood smart, and what you can do to help protect your property.  

Maintaining the storm system is a big job. Learn about what it takes to operate, maintain, and repair over 210 miles of streets, 185 miles of storm sewer pipes, 13,500 storm sewer structures, and hundreds of stormwater BMPs.

Did you know that only rain should enter the storm system?  Learn more about what illegal discharges are, why only rain and snow melt should enter the storm sewer system, and what to do if you see a weird color in a stream.