5 Ways to Prevent Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater has the potential to cause significant damage if not properly managed. In this blog, we‘ll explore what stormwater pollution is and how it can harm your property. 

We’ll also dive into effective strategies to prevent stormwater pollution, ensuring the protection of your home and the environment. So, read on to discover the measures you can take to safeguard your property from this potential threat.

What is Stormwater Pollution?

Stormwater is the excess water from rain, snowmelt, and irrigation that doesn’t absorb into the ground. Stormwater pollution is a significant threat because the water is untreated and flows directly to a lake, river, or ocean.

Stormwater comes from rain that falls on roofs, driveways, walkways, and roads – essentially, any surface that doesn’t absorb water. It can also come from snow and ice melt that drips off roofs, cars, and vegetation and then runs onto the surfaces mentioned above. 

This excess water flows into the storm drain inlets built into our roadways. These drains then carry the untreated water through a system of pipes, emptying into the nearest body of water.

How Does Stormwater Pollution Affect the Environment?

A pollution permit or a treatment plant alone isn’t enough to solve stormwater pollution, since stormwater runoff comes from small, individual sources in a given area. Due to the widespread nature of stormwater runoff, it’s a problem everyone plays a part in solving. Citizens of an area can assist by stopping small, individual activities that cause pollution and result in pollution on a much larger scale. Communities need to come together to prevent stormwater runoff pollution as it develops.

How Does Stormwater Pollution and Excess Runoff Affect YOU?

Over time, uncontrolled roof runoff can cause structural damage to your home’s outside walls and foundation. When water accumulates around the perimeter of a home, it will eventually seep in through cracks in the walls or foundation, thus making your basement and other lower levels of your home wet.

How Can My Roof Help to Prevent Stormwater Pollution?

It seems simple enough, but gutters play the most crucial role in protecting your home from roof runoff. Gutter systems carry stormwater to downspouts that deposit the water into the ground and away from your home’s windows, doors, and foundation.

Not quite as simple, is the act of making sure your gutters are in optimal shape to prevent stormwater runoff. Your gutters must be regularly cleaned of leaves and debris to function to the best of their ability. Gutters often get clogged with debris, and during heavy rains, clogged gutters and downspouts can cause rainwater to overflow, potentially causing substantial damage to your home. 

Adding gutter guards can keep debris out, eliminate clogs, and ensure that your home is safe from excess runoff, and that you’re playing a role in decreasing the stormwater pollution issue. 

Tips for Preventing Roof Runoff

Excess run-off from roofs is a problem that can be fixed relatively easily. Remember, it’s imperative to fix your runoff issue before it happens, not when it’s too late and your home is subject to expensive damage and your foundation has been compromised.

Here are our top tips for how to prevent stormwater pollution:

• Add gutters and downspouts if roof runoff water doesn’t drain freely from the foundation.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts; repair or replace leaking/damaged sections.
• Prevent the build-up of debris in gutter systems by installing gutter guards.
• Ensure gutter downspouts terminate onto splash blocks or run into a leader that extends away from the foundation.
• Make sure your window wells are clean and that they drain quickly.
• Instead of allowing water to go directly into the sewer or to run into the street, direct downspouts to a vegetated area, such as your garden or lawn.
• Consider installing rain barrels or cisterns to collect water for times of necessity.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent Stormwater Pollution?

Outside of your roof and gutters, homeowners can employ a wide range of methods to help prevent stormwater pollution. It’s important to be educated and support programs fighting to alleviate environmental issues such as stormwater pollution.

Contact Werner Roofing Today To Learn More About Preventing Stormwater Pollution

If you have any general roofing questions or more questions about how to prevent stormwater pollution, Werner Roofing is happy to help and advise you as best as possible. We’re one of West Michigan’s premier roofing installation experts, offering the best recommendations and services in the area. For more information, call us at 616-844-5382, or leave us a message online today.