Stormwater, which comes from rain and melting snow and ice, is intended to soak into the soil, runoff into local bodies of water, or be held on the surface to evaporate. However, as land is developed and the natural environment is converted into impervious surfaces (asphalt, concrete, rooftops, etc.) stormwater is often channeled into a series of pipes and storm drainage systems that ultimately discharge directly to lakes, rivers, and streams. This removes stormwater from the area quickly, but also eliminates all opportunities for it to infiltrate back into the soil. Therefore, more stormwater is entering bodies of water at a faster rate than those systems are naturally able to handle. This is where stormwater management becomes important.

Stormwater management is the control and use of stormwater runoff by planning for runoff, maintaining stormwater systems, and regulating the collection, storage, and movement of stormwater. Oftentimes, green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is used to help manage stormwater. GSI uses vegetation, soil, and natural processes to capture and slow rainwater or snowmelt as it moves across a landscape. This approach for managing stormwater allows water to percolate through the soil and utilize plant roots to filter out contaminants. In addition to reducing the amount of stormwater that enters the sewer system, GSI can also improve water quality, increase tree canopy, native vegetation and pollinator habitat, and aid in climate resilience.

Residential Solutions

The main source of water pollution across Michigan comes from stormwater runoff that collects sediment, grease, oil, and other harmful pollutants and enters our lakes, rivers, and streams prior to treatment. The George W. Kuhn (GWK) Drain Drainage District is a combined sewer system. This means that sewage and stormwater are collected and transported in the same underground pipe. Under normal, dry weather conditions, sewage is transported directly to the Great Lakes Water Resource Recovery Facility in Detroit for treatment. However, during heavy rainfall, high volumes of combined sewage (typically more than 93% stormwater), exceed the outlet capacity to Detroit. When this happens, excess flow is diverted to the GWK Retention Treatment Basin where it is stored, screened, and disinfected prior to discharge to the Red Run Drain.

The majority of the GWK Drain Drainage District is residential land use. We believe that assisting residents with the implementation of GSI features will be a cost-effective way to help an urban area manage stormwater in a changing climate. Residents can manage stormwater on their property through the implementation of a few simple projects: install a rain barrel, install a rain garden, or plant a native tree.