Local waterways face contamination risks during rainfall as stormwater sweeps across urban surfaces and carries pollutants directly into drainage systems, county officials say.
As precipitation flows over roadways, pedestrian pathways, and paved areas, it accumulates various contaminants before entering storm drains. This runoff typically reaches nearby streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters without undergoing any purification process.
To address this environmental challenge, the county has deployed specialized green infrastructure designed to manage stormwater and mitigate flooding hazards. These installations, known as Green Streets infrastructure, represent one component of a comprehensive strategy for stormwater management.
The systems work by intercepting contaminated runoff before it can flow untreated into the region's water bodies, providing filtration that traditional storm drain networks do not offer.