US State Grants $50m for Stormwater Clean-up

The US state of Washington has granted $50m in funding to local governments to expand their water systems, which will help in preventing pollution due to urban stormwater runoff.

The funding, granted by The Washington Department of Ecology under water improvement programmes, will be used to build staffing capacity, improve stormwater research, data management and monitoring.

The grants were made available to local governments through phase I and II municipal stormwater permits, covering the state’s biggest cities, counties and ports.

The funding will also help in keeping the Puget Sound estuary and other state waters, which often face stormwater runoff, clean.