California, Jan. 8, 2016 -- The State Water Resources Control Board adopted a statewide Storm Water Strategy that seeks to advance storm water management in California as a water resource.
In the past, unmanaged storm water runoff has been viewed as water pollution and a threat to human life and property. The newly adopted Storm Water Strategy promotes the value of storm water for multiple benefits such as groundwater replenishment and habitat improvement. The goal of the strategy is to use storm water to improve water quality and supply for local communities and long term state water supply needs.
“The drought, and the specter of more frequent droughts due to climate change, requires us to dramatically rethink how we manage storm water in California,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “Storm water should no longer be viewed as a nuisance, but instead embraced as an immediate and future water resource. With the right planning to capture it rather than shunting it away, local communities can improve local flood control, water quality, and water supply, including groundwater recharge, while contributing to urban greening—all of which will benefit current and future generations of Californians.”
ACWA submitted acomment letter on the draft strategy. In response, officials added water suppliers to the committee they will be forming to advise on implementation. ACWA Regulatory Advocate Adam Walukiewicz Robin testified in support of the strategy’s overall vision of “treating storm water as a valuable resource” and expressed appreciation for the addition of water suppliers to the committee.
The California Water Action Plan, released in January 2014, called for multiple benefit storm water management solutions and more efficient permitting programs. The Storm Water Strategy identifies the goals, objectives, and actions for the State Water Board and Regional Water Boards to continue to improve the regulation, management, and utilization of California’s storm water resources
