Stormwater management is critical for reducing the environmental impacts of rainwater and snowmelt runoff. This START metric emphasizes using strategies and technologies to prevent excess runoff from flowing into streets, lawns, and other sites, which can carry pollutants into local waterways and cause erosion or flooding. By incorporating water-permeable surfaces and features like rain harvesting systems, stormwater drains, retention ponds, bioswales, and rain gardens, schools can manage water sustainably, protect ecosystems, and enhance campus resilience.
The need for stormwater management is urgent: urban runoff is a leading cause of water pollution, contributing to issues like algal blooms, habitat degradation, and contamination of drinking water supplies (EPA). Schools can play a key role in addressing these challenges by implementing stormwater solutions that benefit the environment while providing hands-on educational opportunities for students.
Strategies for Stormwater Management
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Incorporate Permeable Surfaces
Replace impermeable surfaces like asphalt or concrete with permeable alternatives such as permeable pavers, gravel, or porous asphalt.
Use permeable materials in parking lots, sidewalks, and play areas to allow water to filter into the ground.
Install Rain Gardens
Create rain gardens to capture and filter runoff from rooftops, driveways, and other hard surfaces.
Use native plants that can thrive in both wet and dry conditions, reducing maintenance needs.
Construct Bioswales
Incorporate bioswales—vegetated channels that direct and filter stormwater—along campus walkways or near parking lots.
Use bioswales to slow water flow, trap sediment, and reduce pollutants before water enters storm drains.
Build Retention or Detention Ponds
Design ponds to temporarily hold and slowly release stormwater, reducing flood risks and filtering pollutants.
Use these areas as outdoor classrooms to teach students about hydrology and ecosystems.
Implement Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Install rain barrels or cisterns to collect and store rainwater for irrigation, cleaning, or other non-potable uses.
Use signage to educate students and staff about the benefits of rainwater harvesting.
Design Green Roofs
Install green roofs with vegetation to absorb rainwater, reduce runoff, and insulate buildings.
Incorporate these features into science or sustainability lessons as living labs.
Optimize Existing Stormwater Drains
Ensure stormwater drains are clean and functioning efficiently to prevent backups and overflow.
Add filters or screens to catch debris and reduce pollutants entering the system.
Plant Trees and Vegetative Buffers
Use trees, shrubs, and other vegetation to slow runoff, filter pollutants, and improve soil infiltration.
Create buffer zones around water features to prevent erosion and sedimentation.
Reduce Impervious Surface Area
Minimize paved areas during construction or renovation projects.
Replace unnecessary pavement with green spaces or permeable alternatives.
Develop Stormwater Education Programs
Teach students about the importance of stormwater management and its impact on local ecosystems.
Use stormwater features like rain gardens or bioswales as interactive teaching tools.
Track and Monitor Runoff
Use flow meters or sensors to measure stormwater runoff and assess the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
Share findings with the school community to encourage ongoing engagement.
Collaborate with Local Governments and Experts
Partner with municipal agencies, environmental organizations, or landscape architects to design and implement stormwater solutions.
Apply for grants or funding opportunities to support stormwater projects.
Involve Students in Projects
Engage students in designing, building, and maintaining stormwater management systems.
Use these activities as project-based learning opportunities in environmental science or engineering classes.
Celebrate and Share Successes
Highlight the benefits of stormwater management systems, such as reduced flooding or improved water quality.
Use campus signage or social media to showcase efforts and educate the broader community.
‘How To’ Guides
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Storm Smart Schools: Integrating Green Stormwater Infrastructure
From the EPA, understanding issues and requirements, and eight steps to integrate green stormwater infrastructure to meet regulatory compliance and promote environmental literacy.
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A Guide to Stormwater Management on School Campuses
How to create planters, rain gardens, choose native trees & wildflower meadows (Northeast USA), plus considerations for vehicle washing and maintenance.
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Additional Resources
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Water Pollution Prevention Project Toolkit
From Generation Earth, this toolkit takes students through conducting a water audit, interview, and campus/ community cleanup event. Though created for Los Angeles Schools, any school can use the resource.
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Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.