As a result, natural drainage systems are often altered to rapidly collect runoff and quickly convey it away (using curb and gutter, enclosed storm sewers, and lined channels). The storm water runoff is subsequently discharged to downstream waters such as streams, reservoirs, lakes or estuaries.
Water quality is affected by the accumulation of trash, oil and rubber from cars, fertilizers and pesticides applied to lawns, sediment from bare or poorly vegetated ground and other pollutants entering streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. The inflow of this debris, along with storm water runoff, can block sunlight to submerged plants, promote unusually rapid algae growth and even reduce or eliminate oxygen needed by aquatic life.
Green Harbor Point has installed an underground storm water management system to capture and temporarily store runoff; passing it through a filter bed of sand contained in large concrete vaults under the rear driveways.
