stormwater

noun

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over time, the patch failed – allowing untreated wastewater to escape into the stormwater system and ultimately flow into the Arkansas River. Zach Hillstrom, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Participants identify plantable areas and conduct site assessments that factor in soil quality, how the land is used and whether the aim is beautification, stormwater management, habitat for wildlife or shade for residents and park visitors. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 The project would also require the removal of 367 trees and the creation of detention areas for stormwater. Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 New York City's sewer system is made up of an elaborate and winding network of 7,400 miles of wastewater and stormwater pipes constructed in the 1800s. ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stormwater

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stormwater was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“Stormwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stormwater. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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