Flooding & Stormwater

Stormwater is the water that runs off the streets when it rains. As water runs along roads, it picks up pollution (like chemicals, trash, and pet waste) and carries it to local streams, a source of our drinking water in many places. Properly managing stormwater helps to keep chemicals and waste out of our drinking water. When properly managed, rainwater filters into the ground before it can pick up contaminants and spill into our waterways. When more stormwater is absorbed by the ground, the less likely local creeks are to flash flood.

White Clay Creek flooding after Hurricane Irene, August 2011. (Photo credit: Shaun Bailey)

Teddie, Philadelphia's East Falls spokesdog, knows it's important to scoop when you poop- in order to keep contaminants out of our waterways.