Flood Control

During heavy rains, poorly managed stormwater can cause flooding, infiltrate sewer systems, and carry pollutants into local waterways. Access Penn State Extension’s recommendations on stormwater management and flood control, including green roofs, rain gardens, and live staking.

Stormwater Management: Flood Control Methods

Flooding and property damage are among the more common types of structural damage caused by stormwater. In the United States, there has been a noticeable increase in flooding events in many states, including Pennsylvania. Contributing factors include an increased number of heavy downpours and impermeable paved surfaces.

Following a flood, private water well owners should inspect their systems for possible damage and consider a drinking water test. Testing for bacteria, such as coliform and E. coli, can help ensure water is safe to drink. Flooding can further cause nitrogen losses in cornfields.

To better control stormwater on your property – and prevent future flood damage – consider redirecting downspouts to lawn/garden areas and installing rain barrels. Installing stormwater drainage channels or pipes, or adding green infrastructure are other ways property owners can reduce stormwater runoff. In this section, find an estimate of how much a stormwater project would cost and practical information on causes and solutions for wet basements.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems

A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is a collection of structures designed to collect stormwater from built-up areas and discharge it into local streams and rivers. These structures can be retention basins, ditches, underground pipes, and roadside inlets.

Stormwater fees for property owners have been implemented by many municipalities to cover flood control and stormwater management costs. These fees are often calculated based on the amount of a property’s impervious cover, including roofs, driveways, and patios. Many fee programs offer a credit policy that allows owners to reduce their stormwater bills. Stormwater credits encourage the implementation of management practices that reduce impervious surface areas and stormwater runoff.

Municipalities – and anyone interested in stormwater management – can obtain training from resource centers on designing and implementing fitting management strategies. Topics covered include green infrastructure, stormwater financing, erosion contour, and urban stormwater BMPs.

Streams and Watersheds

A watershed is the land area that drains rainfall into streams. Flooding often occurs in urban watersheds when water enters the area too quickly to be absorbed into the land. In addition, higher volumes of stormwater runoff can cause bank erosion, increased nutrient/sediment loads, decline in water quality, and degraded aquatic habitats.

Stream restoration practices can be implemented to mitigate flooding and redirect the water flow into the stream’s center where less erosion occurs. Strategies to consider include streambank and floodplain restoration, as well as live staking and planting woody vegetation to improve stream health.

In this section, learn more about flood control methods. Advice is available on topics such as green solutions for watersheds and investigation of stream health.