stormwater

noun

storm·​wa·​ter ˈstȯrm-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: rainwater produced by a storm

a stormwater management system

As stormwater runs over lawns, streets and other man-made surfaces, it picks up pollutants—phosphorous and nitrogen from fertilizers, bacteria from pet waste and road salt, to name a few—and carries them into local streams and lakes.

—Delen Goldberg

This rainfall "of biblical proportions," as the local newspaper described it, swamped the city in waist-high stormwater.

—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block

Examples of stormwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His firm had already proved the concept in cities like Jinhua, where his firm replaced a flood wall with its own landscaping, resulting in improved stormwater control. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Inspectors saw evidence of improper dumping of wastewater and grease in the stormwater drain near the Dumpster area. —Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025

New fees The city is increasing fees on stormwater, waste water, and trash pick up to help cover cost increases for providing those services. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2025

Wells for draining stormwater or otherwise recharging aquifers are by far the most common in Arizona. —Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stormwater

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater