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
Delen GoldbergThis rainfall "of biblical proportions," as the local newspaper described it, swamped the city in waist-high stormwater.—Christopher Cooper and Robert Block
Christopher Cooper and Robert BlockExamples of stormwater in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most of the Chicago area uses a combined sewer system, where stormwater and household wastewater drain into the same pipes.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 17 June 2026
If scaled up to cover just half of the Ontario stormwater pond, this innovative setup would trap and save roughly 927 cubic meters of water annually.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
Weather also influences how much local governments will dig into tax revenues to shield us, including building stronger infrastructure to better direct the flow of stormwater, assembling emergency management teams and equipment, and organizing shelters.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
These shallow, planted depressions capture and absorb stormwater runoff, filtering it through soil and plant roots before returning it safely to the ground.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stormwater
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Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 17 June 2026
If scaled up to cover just half of the Ontario stormwater pond, this innovative setup would trap and save roughly 927 cubic meters of water annually.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
Weather also influences how much local governments will dig into tax revenues to shield us, including building stronger infrastructure to better direct the flow of stormwater, assembling emergency management teams and equipment, and organizing shelters.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
These shallow, planted depressions capture and absorb stormwater runoff, filtering it through soil and plant roots before returning it safely to the ground.
—Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stormwater
Cite this Entry
“Stormwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stormwater. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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