Storm Water

Storm water runoff occurs whenever water from rain and snow melt is not absorbed into the soil or intercepted by trees and other plants. In Lebanon, impervious surfaces such as rooftops, roads, highly compacted soils and parking areas prevent the water from infiltrating into the ground. These impervious surfaces also cause the stormwater to run off at a much faster rate and with a higher volume than runoff from undeveloped landscapes. 

Storm water runoff can contain gasoline, oil, pesticides, fertilizers and other pollutants. These pollutants can be carried into our creeks, our wetlands, our groundwater and the Santiam River, negatively impacting water quality. Anything that enters a stormwater system is discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.