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

PennEnvironment says the Philadelphia Water Department dumps over 12 billion gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater a year into the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers and their tributaries. — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Systems like Belgard’s permeable pavers allow rainwater to filter into the ground instead of running off, which helps manage stormwater and support a healthier landscape. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026

Fort Worth homeowners will pay roughly $7 more per month in solid waste, environmental, stormwater and wastewater services combined. — Rachel Royster. Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2026

Trees are a big part of Homer Glen’s identity and play an important role in improving air quality, managing stormwater and increasing property values, Schaller said. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

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