| Storm water affects each member of the community. The storm water system serves everyone in Tega Cay when water runs off our impervious surfaces and leaves our property, it is carried away by the storm water system, reducing instances of flooding and associated injuries and property damages. Moreover, the pollution in storm water affects everyone’ s quality of life. Water pollution can cover up wildlife habitats and reduce oxygen in water bodies. Finally, storm water affects the City and its taxpayers, because it costs money. The storm water system costs money to maintain, just as water and sewer systems do. Plus, the City is required by the federal and state governments to reduce the amount of pollution discharged into the environment by the storm water system. Complying with these requirements also costs money. |
| What is Storm Water? |
| When it rains or snows, some water soaks into the ground, and some evaporates back into the air. But some rainfall does neither, and instead runs off the land – this is called stormwater runoff. Storm water runoff flows across land and through the elaborate series of pipes, ditches, culverts, and catch basins that make up our storm water system, ending up in our streams, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and eventually, the ocean. On its way, storm water runoff picks up and carries many substances that pollute water. These pollutants include sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, debris, pet and animal waste, soap, and fuels. Storm water runoff is not treated in any way, so these pollutants end up in our environment and our water supply. |
| Why is stormwater a problem? |
| Who does stormwater affect? |
| YOU can make a difference! |
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| What is the City of Tega Cay doing about stormwater problems? The City is working hard to maintain the Good Life in Tega Cay, including protecting our water quality and preventing flooding problems. The City studied stormwater management issues in the area and developed a plan to meet local needs. The plan includes these priorities for the stormwater program: |
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| Storm water runoff becomes a problem when it is polluted, when there is so much of it that it causes floods and other damage, or when it moves so quickly that it degrades stream channels or other natural features. Although storm water is a natural occurrence, development intensifies the problems associated with it. The impervious, or hard, surfaces we have built in Tega Cay – streets, driveways, rooftops, and others – prevent rainfall from soaking into the earth. The more impervious surfaces created, the less land exists to soak up rain and snow, meaning there is more stormwater. The storm water system is not equipped to handle the larger volumes of runoff or to treat the polluted stormwater. The runoff also moves faster because there is less vegetation to slow its progress. More runoff, moving at greater speeds, causes flooding. As development increases, the problems will worsen. |
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| Tega Cay South Carolina |
| Presentation from Storm Water Q & A held on February 7, 2010 |