Welcome
Welcome to Smart WaterWays,
the Chittenden Countystormwater website!
What is Stormwater Runoff and Why Is it a Problem?
Stormwater runoff occurs when water from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater runoff from naturally soaking into the ground often creating an excess of stormswater. This excess can pick up pollutants such as oil and grease, chemicals, nutrients, metals and bacteria and flow into stormwater systems or directly to the lake, streams, rivers or wetlands. Anything that enters the stormwater system is discharged untreated into the waterways we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.
By making little changes to your daily habits, you can help keep pollutants out of our stormwater. Click here to find healthy habits for clean water.
Resources for Educators
Find sample curricula and activities for the classroom to educate students of all ages about Stormwater and what they can do to help clean up our lakes and streams!
Explore resources from around the country for teachers and students from elementary school to high school. Have a curriculum or link you’d like us to post? Email
us here!
