Conserving the Rain That Falls in Morris County

by Brian T. Lynch, MSW

As the atmosphere in the Highlands of New Jersey warms up, we will see more heavy rainfall events. That’s because warm air holds more water vapor. Heavier rainfall will add to our considerable flood hazards. The recent proliferation of warehouses and the rapid land development for housing complexes in Morris County only compound the potential for severe flooding because it leaves less undeveloped land, called recharge areas, where rain can soak into the ground.

 

In reading how stormwater experts plan to manage future flooding, the focus relies on “smart stormwater” technologies and grand solutions. These require lots of taxpayer funding and a slow rollout of construction projects. Missing is a discussion on practical, simple, and less costly ideas to reduce stormwater in the short term, but first, some background.

Most rainwater runoff results from covering the ground with impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, sidewalks, and driveways. This causes more rainwater to flow over the land rather than seep into the soil. The traditional solution has been to funnel stormwater into our natural streams and rivers to carry this excess back to the ocean. This extra water volume was tolerated by our river systems 100 years ago when the land was not highly developed, and one-hundred-year floods didn’t occur every decade.

Today, the volume of rainwater running off impervious areas overwhelms our rivers, erodes streambeds, destroys natural habitats, and turns streams into nearly lifeless drainage ditches. More rainwater rushing out to sea means less groundwater to replace what we draw from underground aquifers. Excessive stormwater overflows riverbanks and spills out beyond the natural floodplains to inundate whole communities. Annual flood damage costs us millions of dollars every year. Action is necessary.

What can Morris County residents do right now to begin reducing excess stormwater?

We can start where we live. Where does your rainwater go during a storm if you live in a single-family home? Most homeowners will answer that their excess stormwater runs into the street, nearby lake, or stream. This is especially true during heavy rainstorms when soil quickly becomes saturated as rain falls faster than it can be absorbed into the soil. This also means less infiltration to the roots where grass and trees need moisture. Roofs are a big source of excess stormwater. Most houses have gutters and leaders that direct water into the street. Impervious or semi-impervious driveways made of asphalt, cement, or pavers contribute to the stormwater volume. Sidewalks, patios, and pools where water can’t penetrate the ground also contribute to the problem. All these sources of excess runoff can be eliminated. Older homes can be modified, and new homes can be designed to conserve most of the four feet of annual rainfall Morris County receives.

How much of a difference would residential rain conservation measures make in controlling flood waters and saving the ecology of our river systems?

There are at least 204,000 single-family homes in Morris County on an average lot size of about 20.6% of an acre. In the aggregate, each lot has about 44% impervious cover. When you do the math, our homes generate about 2.4 trillion gallons of residential stormwater annually. The total impervious cover from all sources (roads, residential, and commercial development) comes to 6.3 trillion gallons annually. That means our homes alone account for 38% of the excess stormwater in the County. So yes, we can take many actions to conserve rainwater on our property, and it can make a real difference, both in controlling floods and preserving our streams and rivers.

       https://www.njfuture.org/2019/11/11/where-does-impervious-cover-have-the-biggest-impact/

Rain is an indispensable resource. Life on land only exists because it rains. Managing rainwater and maximizing its use is essential for a more sustainable world. Below are some links to articles on how to conserve rain for interested homeowners. But, I also hope to interest local municipal planners and stormwater utility officials. There is so much that local towns can do to update and tweak building codes and zoning regulations and support homeowner and business owner initiatives to reduce stormwater runoff.



What You Can Do to Soak Up the Rain (US EPA)
https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/what-you-can-do-soak-rain


Soak Up the Rain: Permeable Pavement (US EPA)
https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-permeable-pavement


Stormwater Drainage Wells (US EPA)
https://www.epa.gov/uic/stormwater-drainage-wells


Urbanization and Stormwater Runoff (US EPA)
https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/urbanization-and-stormwater-runoff


Sustainable Landscapes: Designing a Rain Garden for Residential Property
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/sustainable-landscapes-designing-a-rain-garden-for-residential-property.html


Stormwater Management: Rainwater Harvesting in Residential-Scale Landscapes
https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g2148/build/g2148.htm