Stormwater Management

Stormwater is rainwater that washes through our property and streets and does not infiltrate into the ground, but rather, flows into surface water taking with it any debris that may be in its path. This mixture of rain, debris, oil, and waste is known as stormwater runoff. 

Stormwater Infrastructure Grant Pilot Program

Stafford County has launched its new Neighborhood Stormwater Infrastructure Grant Pilot Program. The goal of the program is to provide neighborhoods within the County with assistance in tackling public drainage issues. Read more to see if you qualify to apply.

Stormwater Management:

Stormwater Management is a mechanism for controlling stormwater runoff. These practices are incorporated into the design of any development to mitigate impacts the development may have on the aquatic environment. Stormwater management practices address two major issues, the quantity or volume of stormwater and the quality of the stormwater. Stormwater management practices also provide water quality treatment to help prevent additional pollution from entering streams and rivers. Stafford County is located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, where protecting water quality is very important.

Stormwater Quantity:
Pervious (or vegetated) surfaces, such as fields, meadows, and woodlands absorb and infiltrate rainfall and generate little runoff. As land develops, these areas are typically covered with impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops. These impervious surfaces generate more runoff every time it rains. The quantity of runoff from these areas can overwhelm natural channels and streams. Stormwater management practices are designed to offset these increases in runoff. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has more information on managing runoff.

Stormwater Quality:
The pervious and impervious surfaces in the urbanized landscape collect pollutants, such as automobile oil, grease, brake pad dust, sediment from construction sites, bacteria from animal waste, excess lawn care fertilizers and pesticides, as well as atmospheric deposition of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other airborne pollutants. Rainfall washes these surfaces so that the initial flush of runoff can carry high concentrations of these pollutants to nearby drinking water supplies, waterways, beaches, and properties. Pollution washed from the land surface by rainfall is called nonpoint source pollution.

Stormwater Management Regulations:
The stormwater management regulations of the Stafford County Code were adopted to establish requirements for the management and control of stormwater runoff from developed properties in the County during and after construction. The County Board of Supervisors has approved a Stormwater Management Design Manual to provide guidance for designers to assist in meeting those requirements. The manual serves as a supplement to State and Federal design manuals that govern stormwater management design.

Stafford County requires the use of low-impact development (LID) techniques to the maximum extent practicable. Low-impact development stormwater management design approaches are fundamentally different from conventional design approaches and challenge traditional thinking regarding development standards, watershed protection, and public participation. LID combines fundamental hydrologic concepts with many of today’s common stormwater strategies, practices and techniques to reshape development patterns in a way that maintains natural watershed hydrologic functions.

All stormwater management facilities in Stafford County need to be secured with a maintenance agreement prior to the plan being approved. Some important links:

• E&S Unit Prices (Erosion & Sediment)
• Storm Drainage & Stormwater Management Unit Prices
• House Lot Grading Plan Review Checklist
• Stormwater Management Maintenance Agreements
  • Please complete the Court's Coversheet along with the maintenance agreement
  • Standard Maintenance Agreement
•  Stormwater Management Design Manual

Groundwater Study:

To view the Piedmont Area groundwater study visit the link below. This study examines well regulations enacted by other localities, determines an estimate of available groundwater and performs modeling to identify areas of greater concern.