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

Throughout the years, the city built wetlands as part of a stormwater management facility and eventually a future park. —Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026

Climate change is also a factor, Maguire says, because as temperatures rise, storms dump more rain in shorter periods of time, overwhelming sewer and stormwater systems. —Michael Copley, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026

According to council documents, stormwater fees have increased for infrastructure management projects, salaries, security and maintenance. —Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

City leaders discussed in 2022 and 2024 possible ballot measures to raise money for stormwater projects, particularly flood prevention and water quality projects. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 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