Water Environment Federation Releases Future of Stormwater Report

November 13, 2015

WEF Resources & Efforts

Rainfall to Results The Future of Stormwater Cover

Click to access the Rainfall to Results: The Future of Stormwater report.

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) released a new comprehensive report that details the challenges, opportunities, and pathways to improving U.S. stormwater systems. At WEFTEC® 2015, the release of Rainfall to Results: The Future of Stormwater  coincided with the official launch of the WEF Stormwater Institute, a new center of excellence and innovation to address stormwater issues.

The report draws from the insights of top stormwater experts across the U.S. who examined the best practices that will lead to a more resilient and effective stormwater sector.

Rainfall to Results details a clear vision for where we need to be on stormwater issues, but more importantly, it also gives us a map for getting there,” said WEF Past President Ed McCormick. “From encouraging work at the watershed level to improving governance and the regulatory environment, the report gives practitioners the tools they need to sustainably manage stormwater.”

According to the report, broader community engagement and collaborative action across all disciplines within the stormwater sector will be required to achieve the envisioned future in which all stormwater will be managed through a mix of affordable and sustainable green, gray, and natural infrastructure. Six critical objectives were identified to achieve this goal:

  • The stormwater sector will have to work at the watershed scale. All communities will have integrated, watershed-scale assessments of water resources needs and challenges.
  • Stormwater governance must be transformed. Communities will create stormwater utilities and regulations to stimulate stormwater control innovation and performance improvement by focusing on program outcomes.
  • Innovation and best practices must be supported. A broad suite of verified stormwater controls and best practices will support confident planning and maintenance.
  • Stormwater assets and resources must be managed. Stormwater systems will be maintained through robust asset-management programs and supported by innovative information technology.
  • Communities must close the funding gap. They will align stormwater management efforts with broader community goals to garner funding options and have access to innovative financing opportunities.
  • The stormwater sector must engage local communities. By doing this, communities will understand and value the contribution stormwater management makes to flood risk reduction, clean and safe water, climate resiliency, and other benefits.
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