US approves grant to Maryland varsity for stormwater overflow management

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a grant of $691,674 to the University of Maryland’s research project, which is aimed at improving stormwater overflow management.

The university will use the grant to develop solutions and support local communities in Howard County Maryland’s Wilde Lake watershed and the District of Columbia’s Watts Branch watershed to improve stormwater management.

The overrun of stormwater is fast becoming one of the major sources of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.

EPA regional administrator Shawn M Garvin said, "Restoring urban waters and the Chesapeake Bay is essential to revitalising the health and economic future of the communities around them."

Maryland Senator and Environment and Public Works Committee, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee chairman Cardin said the management of stormwater will reduce the impact on the local rivers and streams that make up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

"EPA’s grant of $700,000 to the University of Maryland will enable the university and local communities to form a collaborative partnership that will help develop ways to better identify runoff hotspots and improve overall stormwater management," Cardin added.

In addition to funding, the university’s project will also provide technical assistance and scientific knowledge to the communities to help them identify the problem areas related to stormwater, and practice the best solutions to avoid and fix them.

EPA has approved the grant under its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) programme, which aims at funding research grants in numerous environmental science and engineering disciplines.

---

Image: A part of the EPA grant will be used to manage the overrun of stormwater in the Wilde Lake in US. Photo: Andrew Bossi.