What is runoff?
 It's rain and snowmelt that doesn’t soak into the ground, but instead runs off into the nearest creek, river, or other water body. Water comes off rooftops, driveways, alleys, sidewalks, and lawns and goes into the gutter. Runoff then “disappears” down storm drains into underground pipes that flow downhill to the nearest creek.
Runoff picks up trash, dirt, oil and fluid drips from vehicles, lawn chemicals, road salt, and pet waste and transports it directly into waterways causing water pollution.
Why is this a problem?
 During heavy rains, a lot of water goes through the pipes, causing the creek to rise. An inch or two of rain can flood the creek, creating serious soil and stream bank erosion. That's why Rock Creek is brown in this photo. Soil erosion exposes buried pipes and damages roads and bridges, which requires expensive taxpayer-funded repairs. It also knocks down trees and destroys fish and wildlife habitat.
 Increasing water and sewer costs affect all District residents and businesses. Stormwater fees are collected to cover costs to manage and treat runoff. And there are huge costs as the city begins to modernize the aging sewer system infrastructure in older sections, nearly one-third of the entire District.
Building new underground systems will take years to complete. Meanwhile, every time it rains about an inch, the old sewer system – called the Combined Sewer System – actually mixes raw sewage with runoff and pours it straight into local waterways.
What can be done?
Planners used to think that the best approach was getting water away from yards and streets as quickly as possible. We now know that piping stormwater to the nearest creek causes a lot of damage. But the water needs to go somewhere, even in heavily built-up areas covered with rooftops and concrete.
The challenge is to find or create places where rainwater can soak into the ground near where it falls – in yards, on playgrounds, under trees – and out of storm drains!
 
The key is to capture and hold the stormwater before it reaches the creek. Eco-friendly landscaping helps stormwater to “infiltrate” or be absorbed into the ground.
And we need to reduce or eliminate the pollution that is washed into our streams. Simple steps include not littering, picking up after pets, following instructions when applying fertilizers – or switching to organic lawn products!
How can RiverSmart Washington help?
 Working in two experimental study areas, RiverSmart Washington will reduce polluted runoff into Rock Creek by installing eco-friendly landscaping on properties of up to 100 individual homes and businesses.
In public space, RiverSmart Washington will widen the green space along streets, and add more trees and plants. Some District sidewalks, alleys and playgrounds will be re-surfaced with pervious surfaces that absorb rainfall; and one school may get a green roof!
Why is this important?
By keeping rainfall above ground – in gardens, on playgrounds, under trees, in rain barrels – there will be less polluted runoff entering the sewer system, less mixing of raw sewage, and less destruction of our creeks and rivers.
And, by capturing runoff above ground and using it to water lawns and gardens -- or even wash cars – property owners may see lower monthly water and sewer bills!
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