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= Stormwater Management Policy Process =

Background
Stormwater is water from natural forms of precipitation that is diverted from directly entering the ground. This is a result from the increase in materials and man-made structures being implemented in a growing world. From the water running across these impervious surfaces, pollution in the form of soil, fertilizer, pet waste, and more all are collected in the water, which then ends up in the nearest bodies of water. These bodies of water typically end up being used for human-use since it is freshwater and not saltwater. With the people using this contaminated water, though it passes through a water treatment process, there is still pollution in the water. The bodies of water which the polluted water flows into is also used as animal habitats, which results in lowering the number of organisms living there once the pollution reaches the ecosystem.

Managing Practices
With stormwater pollution, there are ways to lower the amount of contamination entering stormwater. Individuals can reduce the exposure of harmful products, such as oil, antifreeze, and other products, by keeping the products in a dry place away from stormwater, and by cleaning up outdoor spills to reduce the contamination amount these products have. People can also reduce the amount of bare soil by growing grass, setting mulch, start a home garden for plants or crops, or anything that allows stormwater to not run off and collect pollution.

Along with redirecting stormwater, individuals can put storm gutters onto their roofs and have the water run onto areas able to soak in water instead of having the water run onto the pavement, roads, and other polluters. Water running off of roads is more of an issue in urban areas with little green space. However, there has been re-paved surfaces in different areas, allowing for the water to pass through the paved surface and enter the ground. This allows for a lower contamination amount for the stormwater because it prevents runoff.

Management Policies
Along with these individual and local practices, there are policies that have been directed towards the management of stormwater. A major agency in the United States to regulate and have policies on stormwater pollution and management is the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). In several states, there is the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which is an agency under the EPA's Clean Water Act. For a company to cause any form of potential pollution towards stormwater through their activities, a permit must be granted by the NPDES. This allows for regulation of pollutants and lowers the chance of polluting stormwater and worsening the water quality.

An example of gaining a permit from NPDES comes from Auburn University. The school wrote up their policy stating the ways the school planned to manage their stormwater. In order for the policy to be NPDES approved, the procedures and the principles that were laid out and to be followed by the school, had to be thoughtfully written out and defined.