(540) 908-4212

201 Green StreetBridgewater, Virginia  22812

Stormwater Management

Stantec Report on Bridgewater TMDL Action Plan



How We Are Helping 

By properly managing storm water runoff, we, as citizens of Bridgewater, help keep harmful toxins out of our drinking water supply. There are many tools at the disposal of the town that we use to ensure proper management of Bridgewater’s storm water. Several examples you may have seen around town include:

  1. Curbs and Gutters: Curbing and gutters play an integral role in storm water management. Nothing redirects storm water problems better than properly designed curbs and gutters.
  2. Geotextile Silt Fence: Often used for temporary erosion control on construction sites, these often thin, black, knee-high permeable barriers capture sediment during a downpour.
  3. Sediment Basin: Sediment Basins are used to catch concentrated flows of water and keep workable land from being turned into wetlands.

The Town also sponsors "Wildwood Days" at Wildwood Park each year in conjuction with John Wayland Elementary School.  Town employees discuss stormwater and other environmental issues with local elementary school students.  To learn more about the town's Stormwater Management Program, click here.

How You Can Help

Citizens must share the responsibility of storm water management. There are several simple ways you can help.

1. Unlawful dumping is a serious crime and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

2. Washing your car on your lawn serves many purposes. You get a clean car, your lawn gets watered, and you help keep contaminated water from reaching Bridgewater’s beautiful streams and rivers by using your grass as a natural filter.

3. For those of you not connected to the town sewage system, note that improperly functioning septic systems are the cause of a large portion of contamination.

4. Never dump anything down your storm drain. Storm drains lead directly into our water source, not into the sewer system as many residents tend to think. The cooking oil that many dump down their storm drains should be disposed of by dumping small amounts of the oil into re-sealable containers such as milk cartons and placing them in the garbage.

 5. Always clean up after your pet and dispose of the waste in the trash, in a sealed or tied plastic bag.  For more information, click here or here.

To learn more about stormwater runoff please read the following brochures:

See also:

The Town's MS4 Stormwater Program

The Town of Bridgewater is regulated under the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's MS4 Permit program.  The Town's MS4 Program Plan and Annual reports can be found here.  Previous reports are available at the Town Hall.  The Town has just completed a report on stormwater management and what it means to our citizens, which can be found here.  Please send your questions or concerns regarding environmental issues to: stormwater@bridgewater.town