What is Stormwater?
Stormwater runoff is the water that flows over the land when it rains. The water flows into gutters, storm sewers, and drainage ditches that empty into our local creeks and streams and ultimately discharge to the Flint River.
Impervious areas (the areas that cannot absorb rainfall – rooftops, driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, etc.) are the single most important factor influencing stormwater runoff. Development replaces natural ground surfaces with impervious surfaces, causing more stormwater to run off the land rather than soaking into the soil, resulting in increased stream flows and potential flooding. Impervious areas also contribute pollutants that are eventually carried into our rivers via stormwater runoff.
The City of Albany is responsible for the management of the public storm sewer system. Albany has approximately 533 miles of City streets with drainage systems; 100 publicly maintained detention ponds; 330 miles of piping systems; over 22,000 drainage inlets and other structures; and several hundred miles of drainage ditches, all of which must be maintained by the City to ensure they function properly when rainfall events occur.