Stormwater Management

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Hard surfaces, like roofs, driveways, parking lots, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. If not managed properly, stormwater runoff can create stormwater pollution and/or flooding issues.

Page updated on Aug 6, 2020 at 7:36 AM

What Do We Do?

The Stormwater Management Program helps protect water quality in the City. The program has three focus areas: 1) Stormwater Quality, 2) Flooding and Drainage Issues, and 3) Public Infrastructure Maintenance & Operations. Residents also partner with the City to protect water quality and decrease the impact of flooding. Working together we can manage stormwater more effectively to protect our local water resources and our community.

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Write as Rain Campaign

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! 

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Stormwater Utility Fee Information

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.

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What You Can Do to Protect Water Quality

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.  

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Stormwater Quality

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.  

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Flooding & Drainage

Flooding is the #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.  

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Public Infrastructure Maintenance & Operations

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.

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Illegal Discharges

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.  


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